‘1-2 matchup’ Kia overcomes arm numbness to win 6th game of season against LG
Kia Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho expressed his team’s confidence ahead of their three-game midweek series against the LG Twins in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on April 18, saying they are confident of a 1-2 finish. Before this game, KIA was trailing second-place LG by 1.5 games. Faced with the possibility of losing the top spot, Lee tried to appear calm, saying, “There is no such thing as an unimportant game,” but he soon revealed his intention to defend the lead, saying, “This week, we have to use our heads well (in utilizing the pitching staff).
It’s important to get off to a good start, so Lee pulled out his “ace” card against LG. The veteran left-hander Yang Hyun-jong (36) was the starter to start the game.
Yang Hyun-jong cruised through the first inning just as Lee had hoped. He gave up a walk to Moon Sung-joo and a single to Kim Hyun-soo to put runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the first, but induced the next batter, Kim Bum-seok, to ground into a double play to get out of the jam. He then got Austin Dean to ground out to third base to end the inning.
After a scoreless second inning, Yang began to falter in the top of the third. He gave up a two-run double to Kim Bum-seok in the top of the third inning to make it 3-0, and then gave up an RBI single to Shin Min-jae in the top of the fourth inning to make it 4-2.
There was a reason why Yang’s pace suddenly slowed down after such a promising start. Yang took the mound in the top of the fifth inning, but he could barely throw his fastball. He threw all four pitches to Kim Hyun-soo on sliders and all three to Kim Bum-seok on changeups for outs.
He appeared to be out of sorts. Trainers visited the mound. Pitching coach Jung Jae-hoon also came to the mound to check on Yang, who was experiencing tingling in his left arm. Yang showed his determination to finish the top of the fifth inning, getting the next batter, Austin, to fly out to shortstop on four pitches to complete the fifth 카지노 inning. He threw one fastball in the top of the fifth, and his velocity dropped significantly to 134 kilometers per hour.
Yang was replaced by Kim Do-hyun in the top of the sixth inning after failing to make it to the mound. The KIA team said, “Yang Hyun-jong showed symptoms of numbness in his elbow and is currently icing it. We will monitor his condition on the 19th, but the symptoms are not serious.”
The bats responded to the ace’s pitching, scoring 11 runs on 14 hits. The offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the team to an 11-4 victory over LG.
Yang picked up his sixth win of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings (73 pitches). His next start is scheduled for the 23rd. If the current rotation stays the same, Yang will face Ryu Hyun-jin (37) of the Hanwha Eagles.