‘Pajuk’s 9th Consecutive Win at PS’ NC Coach Kang In-kwon “I Can’t Calm Down”
“I didn’t have a card to use after Lee Yong-chan… Kim Joo-won’s diving was good”
“I will finish the PO quickly… Tanner will be the starter in the 3rd game”
NC Dinos coach Kang In-kwon, who led the team's unstoppable winning streak, opened his mouth and said, "I can't calm down."
Coach Kang said at a press conference after winning 3-2 in the visiting game against KT Wiz in the second game of the 2023 Professional Baseball Playoffs (PO) held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 31st, "We took the lead with Park Geon-woo's home run early in the game, and we were selected as the starter.
“Shin Min-hyuk continued his brilliant pitching.” 카지노사이트탑
He continued by saying, "There were difficulties at the end of the game, but all the players were able to focus and block the match and win."
On this day, NC gave up two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning with a 3-0 lead, and then closing pitcher Lee Yong-chan allowed consecutive hits in the bottom of the 9th, putting the team on the verge of reversing first and third base with no outs.
Lee Yong-chan struck out two batters and intentionally sent Bae Jeong-dae out on 4 pitches, and later allowed Oh Yoon-seok to hit a missed ball.
At this time, shortstop Kim Joo-won flew out and caught the ball, ending the game.
It was literally a dramatic diving catch.
Coach Kang said, “I knew it was a hit the moment it hit,” and “Kim Joo-won was good at selecting defensive positions and diving well.”
He continued, "His older brothers created a difficult situation, but the youngest, Kim Joo-won, led the team to victory."
Regarding the situation in which Bae Jeong-dae was intentionally sent out to 4th pitch, “I judged Bae Jeong-dae’s batting condition to be better than Oh Yoon-seok’s (who hit a grand slam the previous day).
“At the time, the situation was the same whether the second or third bases were loaded.”
The use of the bullpen was also explained.
On this day, when NC was in crisis with first and second base due to a defensive error with one out in the 7th inning, Shin Min-hyuk was removed and Ryu Jin-wook was brought in.
Afterwards, left-handed pitcher Lim Jeong-ho was used for one point in the 8th inning, and closer Lee Yong-chan was brought in early and left until the 9th inning.
Lee Yong-chan went 1⅓ innings with 3 strikeouts and no runs, but was somewhat shaken with 4 hits and 1 walk.
Coach Kang In-kwon explained, “(Pil Seung-jo) Kim Young-gyu was not in good physical condition, so we had to use two players, Ryu Jin-wook and Lee Yong-chan, to finish the game,” and “I had no choice but to continue to trust Lee Yong-chan.”
He added, "Kim Young-gyu was not injured, but he showed a decrease in velocity, so we did not want to put him in today's game. I am glad that the game turned out well."
Lee Yong-chan, who has been shaken recently, was explained without hiding anything.
Coach Kang said, “It doesn’t seem like his performance has decreased significantly, but he seems to have lost confidence due to the poor results,” and ordered, “As the older brother of the team, I hope he gives more strength.”
Regarding bullpen Jaehak Lee, who was hit on the back of his right hand by a hard hit in Game 3 of the semi-playoff (quasi-PO) against the SSG Landers on the 25th, he said, "I received a report that he pitched normally from the bullpen," and "(as his physical condition has recovered), it is difficult for him to become a starting pitcher.
“If we go through this, I will consider putting in Lee Jae-hak or Choi Seong-young,” he said.
He highly praised starter Shin Min-hyuk, who pitched well in 6⅓ innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and no runs.
Coach Kang said, “I honestly didn’t expect him to throw this well,” and added, “He seems like a strong player in big games.”
He then praised the battery, saying, “(Catcher) Kim Hyeong-jun led the team well, so Shin Min-hyuk shined even more.”
NC went on a 9-game winning streak in the postseason (PS) from the 4th game of the 2020 Korean Series to the 2nd game of this year's PO, tying the all-time KBO PS record for the most consecutive wins achieved by the Haitai Tigers from the 4th game of the PO in 1987 to the 3rd game of the KS in 1988. achieved.
If they win the 3rd PO game held at Changwon NC Park on November 2nd, NC will become the first KBO to record 10 consecutive wins in PS.
Regarding this, Coach Kang said, “I don’t attach meaning to it myself,” and added, “I will do my best in every game to continue the record.”
When he was told, "If I achieve a new record, I will advance to KS," he pledged, "I will prepare well and finish PO quickly."
When asked about the starting pitcher for Game 3, he revealed that it was “Tanner Turley,” and when asked whether Eric Peddy, the starter in Game 1, would be on standby for Game 3, he answered, “It’s impossible.”