The difference between having 'little giant' Kim Ji-chan (outfielder) on the Samsung Lions and not having him is certainly significant. Kim Ji-chan, who returned to the first team after shaking off left hamstring pain, broke the ice for the offense, boosting the team's morale. This is why fans refer to him as 'Ji-chan Lions.'
On the 20th, Kim Ji-chan delivered the game-winning hit in the 11th inning with one out and the bases loaded against the Kiwoom Heroes, finishing with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 5 at-bats. Samsung overcame Kiwoom 6-3 after a fierce battle in the 11th inning, breaking free from a three-game losing streak.
Kim Ji-chan's performance stood out again in the game on the 21st. With 2 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs scored in 3 at-bats, he showcased the formula 'Kim Ji-chan on base = run scored.' Samsung defeated Kiwoom 6-1, securing the winning series. Starter Ariel Huardo showcased an impressive outing with 1 earned run in 6 innings (5 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts), marking his 4th win of the season. Kim Jae-yoon, Baek Jung-hyun, and Kim Tae-hoon each handled 1 inning without allowing any runs.
After achieving two consecutive wins following a three-game losing streak, manager Park Jin-man noted, 'Thanks to Kim Ji-chan getting on base frequently, we had an active offense.'
Kim Ji-chan, who achieved multi-hits for two consecutive days since his first team return, said in an interview with MBC Sports Plus, 'I feel good to break the losing streak yesterday and continue the winning streak today.'
Regarding his current hitting form, Kim Ji-chan stated, 'It’s not very good; today I got on base a lot as the leadoff hitter, and I thought if I got on base more as the leadoff hitter, we could score a lot of runs.'
Having briefly paused due to an unexpected injury, he said, 'When I was down (in the second team), I felt like I wasn’t a baseball player. I was eager to play in the first team as soon as possible and felt happy that I could play baseball healthily.'
He humbly remarked on the expression 'Ji-chan Lions,' saying, 'It doesn’t seem like Ji-chan Lions because all the players are working hard.'
Kim Ji-chan stated that he is paying more attention to body management to prevent injuries, saying, 'As always, I want to manage my body well. While injuries are sometimes unavoidable even with hard work, I think I need to pay more attention moving forward.'
Finally, he concluded the interview by saying, 'Despite being an away game, many fans came to the stadium and cheered hard, which allowed us to play a good game. There are still many games left, and we will win a lot, so I ask for a lot of support.'
[OSEN]