In a game against the SSG Landers held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 4th, the Samsung Lions also showed a “toss-up show” in the eighth inning. Starter (left-hander) Lee Seung-hyun pitched well with one run in six innings, but the game was frustrating as the batting lineup did not explode. Samsung, which was trailing 0-1, did not miss a single big chance in the bottom of the eighth inning. After one out, runners piled up with Ryu Ji-hyuk’s hit and Kang Min-ho’s ball on base. With runners on the first and second bases with one out, pinch-hitter Kim Tae-hoon struck out, but crushed SSG closer Moon Seung-won who took the mound later. With two outs and runners on the first and second bases, Kim Ji-chan hit a timely hit that fell in the middle of the right, and second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk came home. Then, two runners came home, with David McKinnon’s walk on base and Koo Ja-wook hitting a lucky double that was deflected off the second baseman. Samsung, which turned the tables in the eighth inning, won the final score of 3-1 and continued its five-game winning streak.여우알바
Samsung has the largest number of come-from-behind wins and the smallest number of come-from-behind losses in the KBO League this season. It had 18 come-from-behind wins as of Tuesday, the most among the 10 teams. On the other hand, it had the smallest number of come-from-behind losses at eight. Samsung is the only team that has had fewer than 10 come-from-behind losses.
The result has completely changed from a year ago. Last year, Samsung was the team with the most come-from-behind losses in the league. It suffered upset losses a whopping 38 times in one season. It also had four more losses than the second-ranked Hanwha Eagles (34 losses). On the other hand, it had 27 come-from-behind wins, ranking seventh overall and among the lowest rank. This is not an absolute number, but it clearly shows that the team lacked the power to turn the tables, and its weakness to turn the tables was obvious.
Oh Seung-hwan of Samsung is sharing a high-five with coach Park Jin-man after the game.
The change in performance comes from a stable mound. The biggest difference is definitely the bullpen. Last year, Samsung had its biggest concern with a weak bullpen, but this season has completely changed.
Samsung has invested heavily in strengthening its bullpen ahead of this season. It recruited Kim Jae-yoon and Lim Chang-min as external free agents. Notably, it invested a huge amount of up to 5.8 billion won (5.36 million U.S. dollars) for Kim Jae-yoon for four years, and was able to recruit veteran bullpen pitcher Lim Chang-min for two years at a relatively cheap price. It also successfully secured an extension contract (up to 2.2 billion won for two years) with Oh Seung-hwan, an internal free agent.
Including them, the number of bullpen sessions has increased significantly, making operation much easier. Lim Chang-min and Kim Jae-yoon had ups and downs last month, but they revived to lead their team to consecutive wins in recent games. Closing pitcher Oh Seung-hwan has regained the one-point ERA that he cannot remember last year’s slump.
Manager Park Jin-man said, “The bullpen session was the part that we had the most difficulties last year. Before joining the team this season, the front desk filled in a lot of such shortcomings, including the new general manager Lee Jong-yeol. As a result, the number of players who can use the bullpen has increased. I think that’s an advantage because I can make physical arrangements once in a while, and many players are doing well. I think that’s what’s leading to the current team atmosphere.”
Samsung also followed the rules of its decision to come from behind to win the match against SSG on Wednesday. After starting pitcher Lee Seung-hyun stepped down, right-handed pitcher Lee Seung-hyun was deployed as the second pitcher, and after the reversal in the top of the eighth inning, Kim Jae-yoon blocked one inning in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Oh Seung-hwan, the closing pitcher of the ninth inning, took the mound to close the game. Kim Jae-yoon held the ball and Oh Seung-hwan made saves, respectively.