“My favorite thing was that Yang Ji didn’t hit and the batting lineup exploded to win. I want to give it a big meaning.”
Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop said he was pleased with the recent 11-game winning streak ahead of their game against the Jamsil Lotte Giants on Saturday. Doosan extended its winning streak to 11 games with an 8-5 victory over Jamsil Lotte on Friday, but the Bears were disappointed to see Yang-ji, who batted fourth, go 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
Lee was happy with Yang’s silence, though, as the team scored eight runs on nine hits despite Yang going 0-for-4. It was an unthinkable result considering the Doosan batting lineup in the first half. In the first half of the season, it was a “Yang Ji one-man team,” with other center fielders like Kim Jae-hwan, Jose Rojas, and Yang Seok-hwan not having much form.
The 11-game winning streak was different. Kim Jae-hwan and Yang Seok-hwan shared a home run chorus, and three players – Heo Kyung-min, Kim Jae-hwan, and Yang Seok-hwan – had two hits and two RBIs apiece. Rojas also chipped in with a 1-for-4 performance and an RBI, making sure Yang’s silence at the plate wasn’t noticed.
Lee said, “In the first half, we actually marked Yang Ji only, so that the other team could feel that if he didn’t hit, we would lose. Yesterday (the 25th), Yang Ji was blocked, but the other batsmen batted well and were the driving force (for the win),” he said.
Contrary to his captain’s sentiments, Yang Ji expressed his disappointment at not being able to contribute at the plate after an 11-game winning streak. Lee told him, “We have today (the 26th). It’s one game out of 144, and he’s done well so far. As long as he gets the pitching lead, he’s done his job. I don’t want to put any pressure on him,” and hoped that he would be his usual self again at the plate.
Doosan’s starting lineup was Jung Soo-bin (center field), Heo Kyung-min (third base), Kim Jae-hwan (left field), Yang Ji (catcher), Yang Seok-hwan (designated hitter), Rojas (right field), Kang Seung-ho (first base), Park Jun-young (shortstop), and Lee Yoo-chan (second base). The starting pitcher is Kwak Bin.토토사이트
For Lotte, Aaron Wilkerson, who joined the team as a replacement foreign player, will make his KBO debut. It will be important for Doosan to take advantage of Wilkerson’s unfamiliar pitches to extend their winning streak to 12 games.
Lee said, “Our players are in good shape right now, so I didn’t order anything in the coaching staff meeting. He played in Japan for a year, so I’ve seen him on video. We’ll have to see him in a game. I don’t have a lot of information, just the velocity and the type of pitch. I’ll have to watch the first inning and make a judgment. Our players are in good shape, so we’ll see how they hit.”