Gwangju:Kia Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho expressed his gratitude to closer Jeon Sang-hyun for his significant contributions during the ongoing South Korean baseball postseason. Jeon has been instrumental in securing back-to-back saves for the Tigers, ensuring their victories in the first round of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason against the LG Twins.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeon Sang-hyun recorded the final four outs in the Tigers' 6-3 win over the Twins on Sunday at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. This marked his second consecutive save following a previous effort in a 5-1 victory on Saturday. Despite the heavy workload, Jeon has been a pivotal figure in the Tigers' bullpen, having pitched more innings than any other reliever on his team so far in the series.
Jeon's manager, Lee Bum-ho, acknowledged the closer's intense workload and expressed a sense of regret for the pressure placed on the right-hander. "He has been throwing a lot and as his manager, I feel sorry," Lee stated. However, he also praised Jeon's performance, noting that his efforts have allowed fans and players to leave the ballpark with smiles.
The Tigers took control of Sunday's game early, scoring five runs in the first inning. LG Twins' starter Im Chan-kyu struggled, retiring only one batter and giving up six hits, which included a string of five consecutive hits. Lee Bum-ho commended his team's aggressive approach at the plate, which he believed was key to their early offensive success.
Despite being outhit 9-8 by the Twins, the Tigers capitalized on their scoring opportunities, while the Twins failed to do so. In the eighth inning, Twins batter Lee Jae-won, known for his power, struck out with two runners on base, missing a chance to close the gap. The Twins' bullpen performed well, allowing just one run on two hits after Im's early struggles, but their lineup could not deliver crucial runs.
Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb expressed disappointment in the missed opportunities to score, particularly highlighting Lee Jae-won's strikeout as a key moment. He noted that while Lee Jae-won has some swing issues to address, they will focus on those after the season concludes.