“It is not easy to run to third base with no outs.”

For the first time in a while, 'Youm Kyoung-youb ball' shone. LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb discussed the previous day's double steal before the game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 24th.

On the previous day (23rd), LG created a chance with no outs on first and second base in the third inning after Park Hae-min's hit and Lee Young-bin's walk while trailing 0-1 against SSG. A chance was created before the first batter in the lineup.

However, it was not easy to attack SSG's starting pitcher, White. With a fastball reaching up to 153 km/h and a variety of pitches including a two-seamer, cutter, sweeper, and curve, White is a pitcher with good command. White has a slow quick motion, and LG took advantage of that gap.

At the plate, Moon Sung-ju attempted a double steal with the runner on second and the runner on first during the second pitch. The catcher threw to third base, but it was declared safe. SSG requested a video review, but the call was upheld. LG tied the game 1-1 with a ground ball from Moon Sung-ju to second base with no outs and took the lead 2-1 with a sacrifice fly from Kim Hyun-soo with one out, turning the game around without a timely hit.

Manager Youm Kyoung-youb explained the background for the double steal, saying, “Because it’s fast Park Hae-min, we can boldly call a play. It’s Hae-min, so he can run, while others cannot. I thought it was unreasonable to score by hitting against White. Also, I cannot order Sung-ju to bunt because he is not good at it.”

Youm noted, “If we get out while stealing, we would face a lot of criticism, but at any rate, a manager clearly has to choose battles that can win. In fact, if there is no accountability in the dugout, it is really difficult for players to challenge with no outs. The bench has to take responsibility for players to run boldly with no outs. It’s a bit easier to be aggressive with one out, but it’s hard to run to third base with no outs.”

White pitched well, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts over 6 innings, but allowing the double steal in the third inning ultimately made him the losing pitcher.

SSG manager Lee Soo-kyung expressed regret, saying, "White pitched well, but we had already checked the steal situation from the opponent; we just failed to catch it. I told the players that the opponent could run at any time and instructed them to check for that, but White's quick motion and everything else left us unprepared; I wish he had recognized it a bit better.”

[OSEN]