“Oh no!” Doosan’s “intentional drop” instinct turns into a fatal error! But Kwak Bin is incredible — Hong Chang-ki, Park Hae-min, and Austin all witness a “KKK inning erased” as he roars [WC1 On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Doosan Bears’ An Jae-seok committed a massive error while attempting an intentional drop. This led to a bases-loaded crisis with no outs. However, Kwak Bin, who has served as the top ace of the KBO League this season, displayed extraordinary power by striking out the next three batters.

Doosan Bears and LG Twins are playing Game 1 of the 2026 KBO Postseason Wild Card Decider Series on the 14th at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

Doosan, which finished the regular season in fifth place, must win both games of the Wild Card series to advance to the Junior Playoffs. On the other hand, LG, which finished fourth in the regular season, can advance to the Junior Playoffs by winning just one of Game 1 or Game 2 of the Wild Card Decider Series.

The team that wins today will face third-place KIA, who have already secured a spot in the Junior Playoffs, in the Junior Playoff series starting on the 17th at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field.

In the bottom of the second inning, with LG leading 2-0. Leadoff batter Koo Bon-hyuk hit a double to left-center field off Doosan starter Kwak Bin. Following that, Park Dong-won reached base on a walk after a six-pitch at-bat, and Shin Min-jae stepped up to the plate.

Shin Min-jae immediately attempted a bunt against Kwak Bin’s first pitch fastball (156 km/h). However, the ball popped up. Doosan third baseman An Jae-seok rushed toward it. It was a situation where he could have easily caught it.

At this moment, An Jae-seok showed his instinct. He intentionally let the ball drop without catching it. It was an “intentional drop.” His intention was to turn it into a double play by tagging out not just one runner, but also the runner on second base and either the runner on first or the batter-runner.

However, a variable emerged here. An Jae-seok’s throw to third base went astray. Park Chan-ho barely caught it, touched third base after fielding, but Koo Bon-hyuk had already reached third base faster.

A situation that should have resulted in one out with runners on first and second, or two outs with a runner on first, turned into bases loaded with no outs.

However, the true worth of Kwak Bin, standing on the pitcher's mound, shone brightly here.

Kwak Bin struck out Hong Chang-ki, who came to bat next, in three pitches. The decisive pitch that made him swing and miss on the third pitch was a 157 km/h fastball. Next, against Park Hae-min, Kwak Bin threw a fifth-pitch fastball (157 km/h) with a 2-2 count, making him swing and miss again. Two outs.

The next batter was Austin, who had hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning earlier. This time, instead of the curveball that allowed the home run, he kept throwing only fastballs. With a 2-2 count, he threw a sixth-pitch 158 km/h high fastball, and Austin’s bat swung through it.

Although they faced a life-or-death crisis of bases loaded with no outs due to a fielding error, Kwak Bin and Doosan overcame the crisis with “KKK” (three strikeouts).

Meanwhile, Doosan set their starting batting order as follows: Park Chan-ho (shortstop), An Jae-seok (third baseman), Severino (first baseman), Yang Eui-ji (designated hitter), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Kang Seung-ho (second baseman), Jeong Soo-bin (center fielder), Yoon Jun-ho (catcher), and Cho Su-haeng (right fielder). LG composed their starting batting order as follows: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Koo Bon-hyuk (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher is Carlos Karasuko.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original