The tension on the ground heightened with headshots and threatening pitches, creating a thrilling and sensitive situation. Eventually, the managers came out, leading to a bench-clearing brawl.
The 6th matchup between Samsung and Lotte took place on the 18th at Busan's Sajik Stadium. For the Sunday afternoon game, the stadium was once again filled with 22,669 spectators. Sajik Stadium sold out all three games, including the doubleheader from the previous day. The stadium has achieved a sellout streak of 10 games.
However, from the 5th inning, the atmosphere of the game shifted strangely. The leadoff batter, Jang Du-seong, was hit by a headshot from Samsung's Lee Seung-hyun's second pitch at 136 km/h. The Lotte players and the full house of spectators at Sajik Stadium could not help but react sensitively. Lotte had already suffered three headshots in the past three weeks.
On the 29th of last month, starting shortstop Jeon Min-jae, who had been stepping up, was hit by a headshot from Kiwoom's pitcher Yang Ji-yul's 140 km/h fastball.
On the 11th, another headshot occurred in the second game of the doubleheader against KT Wiz in Suwon. Infielder Lee Ho-jun was hit in the head by a pitch from KT's Oh Won-seok. In the same game, catcher Son Seong-bin was also hit in the head by a pitch from pitcher Son Dong-hyun. In one day and one game, there were two victims of headshots. Fortunately, neither player sustained serious injuries. Unlike Jeon Min-jae, both headshots in the KT game were breaking balls.
In a situation where the entire team had become sensitive to inside pitches, on the 17th, during the first game of the doubleheader against Samsung, Jeon Jun-woo reacted strongly when a pitch hit his shoulder. Following a series of headshots, there was frustration among fans regarding the responses from captain Jeon Jun-woo and the veterans, but on that day, Jeon Jun-woo gave a warning to the opponent.
But then another headshot occurred. With the ejection for the fastball headshot being clear, the umpires hesitated, and manager Kim Tae-hyung came out to protest the decision.
The issue came afterward. After Jeon Min-jae's three-run home run, Samsung's Yang Chang-seob threw a threatening pitch at 148 km/h toward Yoon Dong-hee's head. At that point, manager Kim Tae-hyung stormed out of the dugout. The manager, seeing that his players were continuously being hit and suffering headshot injuries, could no longer just stand by.
He rushed directly toward the Samsung bench. Other players followed suit. It was a bench-clearing brawl led by the manager. The players in the waiting on-deck circle, Jung Hoon and head coach Jo Won-woo, tried to stop manager Kim Tae-hyung, and even Samsung's captain, Koo Ja-wook, and pitching coach Park Seok-jin came out to calm the situation. Samsung's manager Park Jin-man was also seen on the broadcast explaining the situation to manager Kim Tae-hyung.
Captain Koo Ja-wook and veteran catcher Kang Min-ho repeatedly apologized to Lotte and urged them not to misunderstand. After a brief commotion, even after the players returned, Jeon Jun-woo and Kang Min-ho, who are the same age, talked to each other. Samsung took Yang Chang-seob off the mound. Even after the bottom of the 5th inning ended, during the cleaning time, Jeon Jun-woo and Kang Min-ho engaged in conversation again, trying to resolve the situation.
Ultimately, the game concluded with Lotte's 6-3 victory. Lotte completed the series sweep. After the game, while greeting each other, Samsung's Kang Min-ho and captain Koo Ja-wook apologized repeatedly to Lotte. Koo Ja-wook also bowed to manager Kim Tae-hyung, conveying his apologies once again. Despite the heightened emotions, manager Kim Tae-hyung accepted Koo Ja-wook's greeting. No further escalation occurred.
Go Seung-min, who had three hits and two RBIs that day, also expressed his gratitude to the veteran players of Samsung. Go Seung-min said, "First of all, many players have been injured recently, and I am glad that the team was able to overcome and achieve good results in such a sensitive atmosphere," while emphasizing, "Samsung's players, including senior Koo Ja-wook, personally apologized. Thank you for your consideration."
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