Doosan Bears acting manager Cho Sung-hwan achieved his first victory since taking office.
Doosan won 2-1 against the KIA Tigers in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' on the 5th at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, thanks to Kim Min-seok's game-winning hit in the 10th inning of extra time, escaping a four-game losing streak. Acting manager Cho Sung-hwan, who took the helm on the 2nd, experienced his first win.
Doosan's batting lineup recorded 10 hits. Kim Min-seok became the hero of the game by finishing the match in the 10th inning, posting 2 hits in 5 at-bats with 1 RBI. Cave contributed with 3 hits, and Park Jun-soon had a multi-hit performance.
Starting pitcher Choi Won-jun pitched well for 5⅓ innings with 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, but left without a decision, failing to secure his first win of the season. The bullpen, consisting of Go Hyo-jun (2/3 inning, no earned runs), Choi Ji-kang (1 inning, no earned runs), Lee Young-ha (1/3 inning, no earned runs), Park Chi-kook (2/3 inning, no earned runs), and Kim Taek-yeon (2 innings, no earned runs), pitched effectively, laying the groundwork for the game-winning victory.
Doosan's lead-off batter Jung Soo-bin was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning. Cave hit a powerful ball but was tagged out at second. However, Jung Soo-bin advanced to third, and Yang Eui-ji hit a groundout that drove in a run, scoring the first point. KIA retaliated. In the top of the fifth, lead-off batter Han Jun-su hit a triple, and Park Chan-ho hit a ground ball to the pitcher. Choi Won-jun chose to attempt a play at home, but the throw went awry, tying the game at 1-1. This hit was recorded as an RBI infield hit.
Afterward, both teams battled in a tight pitching duel, with a 1-1 score through the 9th inning due to the bullpen's solid performance. In the bottom of the 10th, with one out, Doosan's Cave hit a double, quickly putting them in scoring position, and the ball off Yang Eui-ji resulted in an error by third baseman Kim Kyu-seong, setting up first and second with one out. Although Kim Jae-hwan struck out, Kim Min-seok hit a game-winning single, ending the long match.
Acting manager Cho Sung-hwan noted in an interview after the game, "I could not help but praise our veteran Yang Eui-ji and our youngest Park Jun-soon, as all the players showed a united front, allowing us to win. As an acting manager, I have many shortcomings, but thanks to the players, I achieved this precious first win."
"I can't praise starter Choi Won-jun enough," said acting manager Cho Sung-hwan. "He showed all his effort in throwing every pitch for the team and displayed excellent crisis management skills. The bullpen pitchers who followed also did their part one by one," he stated. He added, "The fielders also worked hard for the team. It was a day when all the players, including Kim Min-seok, who hit the winning hit, showed a determination and focus to win by any means necessary."
The Jamsil Stadium was filled to capacity with 23,750 seats all sold out. It was the 15th sellout of the season. Acting manager Cho Sung-hwan said, "I thank the fans who held their seats until the end of the extra inning. Thanks to their passionate voices, we were able to win today's game."
Doosan will start a home series against Lotte on the 6th at Jamsil Stadium. Doosan's starting pitcher will be Jack Logue, and Lotte's starting pitcher will be Na Gyun-an.
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