The Kia Tigers dropped both of their three-game series last week. Hindered by errors
KIA went 1-2 in the three-game weekend series against the league-leading LG Twins on April 26. They lost game one 3-5, but won game two 6-3 with ace Yang Hyun-jong starting. Yang now has 162 career wins, moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time list. However, the good momentum didn’t last. In Game 3, he was unable to get to LG starter Im Chan-kyu at all, and his defense faltered in a 1-7 loss. After dropping two of three games against Hanwha in midweek, KIA is now 20-22 on the season and remains in sixth place, one game behind the fifth-place NC Dinos.
In Game 3 on April 28, KIA committed four errors. In the top of the first inning, third baseman Byun Woo-hyuk failed to catch a hit by Moon Sung-joo with the bases loaded. Instead of receiving the ball head-on, he stretched his hand to the side and missed the catch.
Two runners on 1-2 with one out. Starting pitcher Shawn Anderson gave up a walk to Moon Bo-Kyung and a sacrifice fly to Kim Hyun-Soo to score the first run.
In the top of the second inning, a wild pitch put runners on third and fourth with no outs, but catcher Han Seung-taek’s throw to catch the runner sailed into the outfield, giving up another run.
In the fourth inning, Anderson made a bad throw to first base when LG’s Shin Min-jae tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded. Anderson, who had gotten himself into trouble, then gave up a double to Hong Chang-ki, a triple to Moon Sung-joo, and a single to Moon Bo-kyung.
In the top of the seventh, already down 1-7 and six runs, second-year rookie Yoon Do-hyun hit a foul fly. LG committed as many errors (3) as KIA on the day. However, LG did a better job of managing its runs.
Against the Hanwha Eagles on the 23rd, 메이저사이트 KIA lost early momentum in the bottom of the first inning due to a combination of defensive miscues and errors. After conceding the first run, Chae Eun-sung hit a line drive to center field with the bases loaded, but both the center fielder and the outfielder who handled the play fumbled and gave up the run. Shortstop Park Chan-ho, with a chance to end the inning, bobbled Lee Do-yoon’s throw to the plate, allowing two more runs to score. KIA fell to 5-9 on the day.
KIA started the game with the return from injury of key hitters Na Sung-beom and Kim Do-young, both of whom have recently been sidelined with injuries. Other mainstays like Choi Hyung-woo, Kim Sun-bin, and Socrates Brito are also hitting well. Despite all the positives, the team hasn’t been as focused as it should have been against bottom-ranked Hanwha and head-to-head leader LG. In both games, KIA lost because of errors. Regardless of power, you can’t win if your fundamentals are shaky.