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The visiting team's batter hit a single, and the home team's fans applauded. The player responded by bowing his head to the opposing team's fans. This was a heartwarming scene that unfolded at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on the 12th.
On this day, the Doosan Bears-Lotte Giants matchup marked the "historic" final regular season game at Jamsil Stadium, which is set to be demolished at the end of this season. Along with that, there was significant interest in how much Lotte's Lay Yes (32), who had already surpassed the single-season record for most hits, would extend his personal tally.
Starting as the number one designated hitter, Lay Yes hit consecutive singles to center field in the 2nd and 4th innings. In the 6th inning, he decorated his 210th hit of the season with a home run to left field.
With Lotte leading 7-4, it was the top of the 8th inning with one out and a runner on first base. Lay Yes stepped into the batter's box again. From a 0-1 count, he hit a high fastball (143 km/h) from opposing pitcher Kim Young-hoon to produce a clean single to center field. It was his fourth hit of the game, bringing his season total to 211.
At that moment, a remarkable scene unfolded. Not only Lotte fans on the third-base side, but also Doosan supporters in the first-base section burst into applause. To applaud even though their own team's pitcher had just been hit... Of course, since Doosan's standing was already determined and the outcome of the game was not particularly important, it is true that even opposing fans could not hide their praise and amazement at Lay Yes's astonishing concentration and miraculous hitting skills.
The emotion continued. In the following at-bat by Na Seung-yeop, Lotte sent Park Chan-hyung out as a pinch runner for first base in place of Lay Yes. As Lay Yes headed back to the Lotte dugout, warm applause poured out again from both the third-base and first-base stands. In response, Lay Yes first bowed his head to the Lotte fans on the third-base side, then turned around to politely greet the Doosan spectators on the first-base side.
Doosan fans and Lay Yes all sent each other "true respect (respect, reverence, honor)."
After the game, Lay Yes said regarding this, "It was a gesture of respect and gratitude to all the fans who came to the baseball stadium," adding, "Doosan fans also sent warm support, and I thought it was a duty and manner that a professional player should naturally express."
In a harsh world that divides "us" from "them" and only blames others, Jamsil Stadium, which had been with fans for 45 years, disappeared into history leaving behind emotion and smiles.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
