The Doosan Bears nearly faced a "catastrophe" but did not collapse. After a call play miss during a foul fly in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, they were on the verge of a comeback loss after giving up a tying home run but emerged victorious after 11 innings. Second-year infielder Lim Jong-seong (20), who navigated from hell to heaven, was at the center of it all.
Doosan defeated the Hanwha Eagles 4-3 in an away game in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 13th. Doosan, currently in ninth place, snapped a two-game losing streak while preventing Hanwha's challenge for a 13-game winning streak, holding a record of 17 wins, 22 losses, and 2 ties.
Facing Hanwha, which has surged to first place with 12 consecutive wins, Doosan played a competitive game. Although they were stifled by Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin, Doosan starter Choi Won-jun also delivered a quality start, allowing only 1 run over 6 innings. After Choi Won-jun overcame a bases-loaded crisis in the sixth without conceding a run, Kim Jae-hwan's two-run home run in the eighth gave Doosan a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Go Hyo-jun recorded a three-up, three-down hold, and the game transitioned smoothly to closer Kim Tae-kyun in the bottom of the ninth. Kim Tae-kyun induced a pop-up from Noh Si-hwan to right field and made a ground out against Chae Eun-seong for two outs, but after walking Lee Jin-young, he induced a foul fly from Choi In-ho on his fourth pitch. It seemed to be the final out of the game.
However, catcher Kim Gi-yeon and third baseman Lim Jong-seong failed to catch the ball due to a call play miss, and neither player made a play on it. The official ruling was an error on Kim Gi-yeon, as it was a ball that a catcher should have handled. Following this, during the ongoing duel, Kim Tae-kyun allowed a shocking two-run home run to Choi In-ho. Choi In-ho hit a fastball at 151 km/h after nine pitches, clearing the 8-meter-high monster wall in right field. This marked the third blown save for Kim Tae-kyun this season.
Doosan, having let a secured victory slip away in front of them, did not collapse. In the top of the 11th, they capitalized on a walk to Kang Seung-ho and a stolen base to second by pinch runner Jeon Da-min, creating a two-out, two-on opportunity. Lim Jong-seong, who was involved in the call play miss in the bottom of the ninth, took matters into his own hands at the plate. He dealt a hefty hit to the left side, driving in the winning run with a stand-up double. It was a moment that marked his debut first RBI as the game-winning hit.
After the game, Lim Jong-seong said, "Baseball is a sport where anything can happen," and regarding the ninth-inning defense, he noted, "It was a call play miss. I didn't have much experience, and it almost shook my mentality, but in the middle, my seniors and coaches said, 'It's okay. Regain your mentality,' which allowed me to move on to the next play."
From the moment I stepped up to the plate, I was determined to resolve it myself. Lim Jong-seong reflected, "In the ninth, (Kim) Tae-kyun gave up a home run, but before that, the snowball of my call play miss rolled on. I felt sorry towards Tae-kyun, and I made sure to prepare with the mindset that I definitely had to hit when I got back to the plate."
Right-handed infielder Lim Jong-seong from Kyungbuk High School joined Doosan last year as the 22nd overall pick in the third round. He experienced one game in the first team last year and has been given opportunities as a third baseman since being called up on the 2nd of this month. On that day, he made his debut with a multi-hit game, including a push-hit single against Ryu Hyun-jin after a 10-pitch duel in the fifth inning, marking his presence with an RBI.
Kim Jae-hwan, who hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, also praised the performance, saying, "Today’s game is all about (Lim) Jong-seong. He showed a fantastic hit at a crucial moment. After the 11th inning, when Jong-seong returned to the bench, I wanted to sincerely congratulate him, so I let him pass through my teammates. I hope this game can be a turning point for him to gain more confidence and express his emotions more actively. I’m proud of Jong-seong for bringing the momentum with the game-winning hit."
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop also noted, "Although it didn’t lead to victory, I want to first commend starting pitcher Choi Won-jun for leading the early game flow well with a quality start." He added, "In the lineup, Kim Jae-hwan stood out as a key player with three hits, including a valuable two-run homer. It was a quintessential performance by Kim Jae-hwan. Lim Jong-seong's contribution in the tight extra inning game, achieving his first RBI with a hit that broke the balance, was significant as well. I would like to thank the fans who traveled all the way to Daejeon and supported us throughout the lengthy 11 innings."
Meanwhile, Doosan will send left-hander Jack Logg as the starting pitcher against Hanwha on the 14th, aiming for their second consecutive win. Right-hander Moon Dong-joo will take the mound for Hanwha.
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