Kim Jin-sung, Changwon] KIA’s Lee Yi-ri threw 77 pitches in seven innings to lead his team to a win in the second game of the doubleheader.
The KIA Tigers won the second game of an away doubleheader against the NC Dinos of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League 6-1 on Sunday at Changwon NC Park. After dropping the first game 0-7, the Tigers took the second game to even their record at 2-2-1 in the four-game series. KIA has 63 wins, 62 losses and two draws, while NC has 69 wins, 57 losses and two draws.
KIA started Lee Yi-ri in the second game of the doubleheader. Lee threw seven innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking one to improve to 11-7 on the season. Korean National Team coach Ryu Jung-il had left Lee out of the squad because he didn’t think he was in shape to throw 80 pitches as a starter during the Asian Games. However, Lee proved that he can indeed throw 80 pitches by going 77 pitches on the day.
Lee topped out at 150 mph on his fastball and mixed in a slider, curveball, and changeup. Of his 77 pitches, 61 were fastballs, making him a fastball-heavy pitcher. He’s been known to have ups and downs with his pitches, but that wasn’t the case today. The NC hitters came out flying in game one of the doubleheader, but were unable to handle Lee’s fastball. 안전토토사이트
NC starter Tanner Tully also pitched well. He went six innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts. Only one earned run was allowed due to errors in the outfield. Tanner, who replaced Taylor Widener (Samsung), is the new hope for the NC starting staff.
KIA scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take control of the game at 0-0. Kim Tae-gun led off the inning with a single, but the ball hit the third baseman and went out of play. Byun Woo-hyuk singled to right. Kim Ho-ryung singled up the middle, and the center fielder’s throw to third was inaccurate. The ball went into the third base dugout, automatically advancing the KIA runners to second base.
KIA then got a run back when Park Chan-ho singled to right-center field. Park fouled off Tanner’s first-pitch slider toward first base, but the first baseman made a throwing error. Lee Chang-jin followed with a bunt single and Kim completed the big inning with a single to left-center.
Kia added two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. With Tanner down, leadoff hitter Byun Woo-hyuk drew a walk from Lee Yong-joon. Kim Ho-ryung struck out, but Park Chan-ho followed with a single to right-center and stole second.
Lee Chang-jin followed with a line drive to the shortstop. The shortstop’s throw to home sailed into the backstop, allowing Park Chan-ho and Kim Kyu-sung to come home. In the process of KIA’s six runs on the day, NC committed three errors. KIA brought in Jang Hyun-sik in the eighth inning to close out the game after Lee went down. Unlike the first game, the NC bats didn’t have the power they needed. Seo Ho-cheol had to settle for a solo shot to left off Jang Hyun-sik, extending his home run streak to three days and four games.