CHANGWON, South Korea – On the edge of being eliminated from the Korea Baseball Organization postseason, the SSG Landers are setting their sights on playing another game in their home city of Incheon.
According to a news release by Yonhap News Agency, the NC Dinos have taken a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five first round after winning two road games in Incheon. The Dinos now have the opportunity to close out the series in the next two games, which will be played in Changwon. However, if the series goes to a fifth game, it will be held in Incheon, where the Landers have the home field advantage as the higher seed.
Outfielder Han Yoo-seom expressed his team’s resolve before the crucial Game 3 at Changwon NC Park. “Honestly, there’s nothing else on my mind but to return to Incheon,” Han said. Han previously hit two home runs in a 7-3 loss in Game 2. “We all have the same thought on our mind right now. We have to do whatever it takes to take this series back to Incheon,” he added.
Despite employing their top regular-season starters, Roenis Elias and Kim Kwang-hyun, the Landers lost the first two games of the series. “It’d be a lie if I said we’re not feeling the pressure,” Han noted. “But we can’t afford to look back. We have to keep going forward, trust the work we’ve done so far and try to win tonight’s game.”
Manager Kim Won-hyong is also making adjustments to the lineup for Game 3, moving Han to the cleanup position for the first time since September 21. “I think the manager has faith in me,” Han said. “But I don’t put much stock into where I hit in the lineup. I just want to focus on winning tonight.”
Dinos manager Kang In-kwon aims to conclude the series in Wednesday’s game. As the team lacks a viable starter for Game 4, Kang is relying on Game 3 starter Tanner Tully to secure the win. “He has to command his sliders and avoid hard contact with that pitch,” Kang advised.
Complicating matters for the Dinos, Erick Fedde, the regular-season Triple Crown winner, was scratched late from Game 3 due to right forearm issues, and his availability for Thursday remains uncertain. “He got his regular work in today during practice, and he’s made progress,” Kang said. “But it’s hard to say at this point if he will be able to start tomorrow.”