“The idea was to stop them at all costs.”
Doosan faced off against Samsung in extra innings, and the outcome was a walk-off win. Kim Jae-ho (38) delivered the game-winning hit. Behind him was a strong pitching performance by Park (27). It is no exaggeration to say that the team could not have won without Park.
Doosan won the final game of its midweek three-game series against Samsung in the 2023 KBO League regular season at Jamsil Stadium on Friday, 4-3, thanks to Kim Jae-ho’s RBI single to left field in the bottom of the 11th inning.
It was the best-of-three series. The first game was a 7-5 come-from-behind win, and the previous day was a 1-6 loss. Today, we came from behind again to win 토토사이트2-1. They went into the three-game weekend in good spirits.
Kim Jae-ho was the star of the show. In the bottom of the 11th inning, with the bases loaded, he hit a single to left against Hong Jung-woo. The game was over. Doosan won 4-3.
It was the 14th game-winning hit of the season and the 1260th of his career. It is the fourth for an individual. It was his first hit in 1083 days since June 6, 2020, against the Jamsil KIA.
Kim Jae-ho is not the only one. We need to look back at the top of the 11th inning. Lee Byung-heon came up with the bases loaded and 3-3. He gave up a walk to Oh Jae-il, and the bases were loaded with Ahn Joo-hyung. He committed a throwing error and was stranded at second base.
Doosan’s Park Jung-soo celebrates after pitching a scoreless 11th inning against Samsung Electronics during the 2023 KBO League regular season at Jamsil Stadium on May 25. Photo courtesy of Doosan Bears
That’s when Doosan sent Lee Byung-heon down and brought up Park. Park had pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in two games in May. The pace was good.
He lived up to expectations. First, he laid down a sacrifice bunt to Kim Tae-gun. It was runners on first and third. But then he fired a surprise curveball to Kim Young-woong for a groundout. Second and third. He struck out pinch-hitter Kim Hyun-jun on a foul fly to left field to end the inning.
The final run scored in the bottom of the 11th, and Park earned the win. With the win, Park is now 4-1 with a 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched in four games this season. It’s his best start since joining the Doosan organization. Manager Lee Seung-yeop praised Park’s guts for pitching a no-hitter in a crisis situation.
After the game, Park said, “It was a tough situation, but I went to the mound with the determination of ‘I’ll stop him no matter what.’ I’m glad I did. After closing out the 11th inning, the atmosphere on the bench was eager. I really cheered for the team’s victory, not my own.”
On his physical condition, he said, “I feel good, I don’t have any aches and pains. I always have a good flow and then I get sick and it breaks down, but the training part is very careful and I’m on a good schedule,” he emphasized.
“I was nervous because I didn’t have a lot of experience in important situations. If I keep throwing well, I will be able to pitch in important situations. I will prepare harder,” he said. r