Na Sung-bum, the new fourth batter of the KIA Tigers, led the upset by swinging strong batting performance. At the 2024 professional baseball game against the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on Sunday, he had three hits, two runs and an RBI from five times at bat, and played a key role in his team’s 9-8 victory. The team has emerged from two consecutive losses.메이저사이트
In the three consecutive games against KT, he only had one hit from 11 times at bat. Notably, he failed to garner a single hit until the 12th inning on the previous day. He had one hit, but failed to score a run as the fourth batter. It was different on the day. He got on base with a hit to right center from the first at bat in the second inning, and Byun Woo-hyuk’s two-run homer to the left after two outs. He only grounded out to shortstop in the third inning, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, when his team was losing 2-5, he allowed a critical hit to the first base with no outs. He also garnered three runs as he made home runs.
His at-bat stood out in the ninth inning. With the team losing 7-8, Kim Sun-bin’s double to the left-center field and Kim Do-young made an infield hit to the shortstop to create an opportunity for runners on the first and second bases with no outs. He lightly hit Oh Seung-hwan, the closer of the Samsung Lions, and hit an equalizer in front of the center field. With runners on the first and third bases with one out, KIA came from behind to win the game with Seo Kun-chang’s finishing hit.
After the game, Na said, “I went all the way to the playoff yesterday, but the players were really tired. Unfortunately, I lost and thought that if I lose today, it could lead to a losing streak. The players changed their minds. Rather than thinking that I should win unconditionally, I prepared just as well. The players just talked about doing what I did well. That’s why I played a really good game.”
On the tying hit scene in the ninth inning, he said, “I was on the first and second bases without getting out. I wanted to hit a fastball with the intention of making it at least to the second or third base. If a good hit comes out, you can even get a hit. I went in with a comfortable mind. When I get nervous, my swing doesn’t come out. I hit well as I thought today,” he calmly explained.
Lastly, he said, “Rather than feeling pressured to be the fourth batter, I think I should play my part in any batting order. DOYOUNG is playing well in the front and Socrates is playing well in the back. I try to comfortably enter the batter’s box thinking that I will play the fourth time. I try to forget bad memories and moments from the beginning of the season. I try to keep reminiscing about good memories from last year. The fans will also like it if I can contribute to the team today for the rest of the season.”