Chances were plentiful, but the players kicked the table, and the Doosan Bears’ inability to overcome a three-run deficit ended their bid for a winning streak.메이저사이트

Doosan lost 3-4 in the 13th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Thursday. With a season record of 55 wins, 1 loss, and 55 ties, their winning percentage is exactly 5 percent.

The game started well. In the top of the first inning, leadoff hitter Jung Soo-bin led off with a solo arch against Lotte starter Park Se-woong. The original call was foul, but a video replay request from the Doosan bench confirmed that the pitch hit the pole. It was the fourth leadoff home run of the season.

But the momentum was short-lived. Starter Raul Alcantara gave up a two-out single to Niko Gudrum in the bottom of the inning, and after a walk to Shin Jung-geun, he gave up a double to Noh Jin-hyuk to load the bases with two outs.

After losing the lead, Doosan began to chip away at the deficit. In the top of the fourth inning, a throwing error by third baseman Niko Gudrum on a 1-3 pitch allowed third baseman Kim In-tae to score, and in the top of the fifth inning, Kim’s RBI single narrowed the gap to one run.

Furthermore, Alcantara stayed on the mound until the end of the seventh inning after giving up four runs in the first inning, while Lotte activated its bullpen with runners on first and second in the top of the fifth. Given that the game was played on a Monday, Lotte had more pressure on their pitching staff.

Doosan loaded the bases in every inning after the sixth, but were unable to capitalize. The failure to steal for two consecutive innings was particularly painful. In the top of the seventh, Cho Su-hyun, who pinch-hit for Kim Jae-hwan, was thrown out trying to steal second base, and in the top of the eighth, pinch-hitter Kang Seung-ho was tagged out at second base after leading off with an infield single.

Determined to keep chasing, Doosan put runners on first and second in the top of the ninth off Lotte reliever Kim Won-joong with a walk to Jung Soo-bin and a single by Jose Rojas. The problem came after that. The next batter, Yang Suk-hwan, struck out, and Yang Ji hit a double to left field. There were no outs, let alone a hit. Kim Jae-ho, who came in to pinch-hit for Cho, struck out after a seven-pitch at-bat, ending the game.

In total, Doosan left 11 base runners on base that day. Aside from the missed opportunities, it was disappointing that Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop did not emphasize the “details” of the game. Doosan’s step towards Seoul will be even heavier.