Could it be that the charismatic leadership of interim manager Cho Sung-hwan, who took the helm earlier this month, has finally been passed on to the team? The 9th place Doosan Bears, with their hustle spirit awakened, are opening the curtain on a counterattack.
The Doosan Bears of professional baseball achieved a comeback victory of 6-5 against the LG Twins in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League Jamsil Derby held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 21st, marking their second consecutive win.
In the 4th inning, Kwak Bin, who had a 3-1 lead, allowed a three-run home run to Park Dong-won, bringing Doosan down to 3-4. An intense second half was anticipated against their rival, currently in 2nd place, but the young Doosan was strong. The sequence that tied the game in the 5th inning was just that. Lead-off hitter Park Jun-soon walked, Kim Min-seok hit a single to right field, and Jung Soo-bin advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting up 1 out with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Kim Dong-jun then brought the runner on 3rd, Park Jun-soon, home with a ground ball to the 2nd baseman.
In the top of the 6th, the harmony between the veterans and newcomers stood out. Lead-off hitter Kim Jae-hwan hit a single on the first pitch, and Lee Yoo-chan followed up with a single to center, creating a situation of 1 out with runners on 1st and 3rd. Then, Oh Myung-jin turned the score around with a run-scoring infield hit. While Lee Yoo-chan successfully stole 3rd base and Oh Myung-jin stole 2nd base, pinch hitter Lim Jong-seong hit a go-ahead infield hit, which was a valuable 2 runs earned through Doosan’s unique aggressive play.
Doosan also regained the hustle spirit in their defense. In the 5th inning, with the score tied at 4-4 and 1 out with a runner on 1st, LG's Austin Dean hit a strong line drive toward right-center on the first pitch from Kwak Bin, but center fielder Jung Soo-bin made a fantastic diving catch to snare it. The fact that Kwak Bin allowed a single to Moon Bo-gyeong right after highlighted the value of Jung Soo-bin's super catch.
With a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the 8th and no outs with a runner on 1st, the one named 'best fielder' Kang Seung-ho made a diving catch. Chasing Park Dong-won’s pop-up all the way, he jumped and extended his arm to make the catch in front of the 1st base bullpen. It was a catch that perfectly illustrated the phrase of having snatched the ball before it hit the fence. Kang Seung-ho, who had been experiencing an extreme batting slump, was informed of his demotion to the 2nd team following Cho Sung-hwan's appointment, but with one defensive play, he once again earned applause from Doosan fans.
Doosan, after a comeback victory of 9-8 against the Daegu Samsung Lions on the 19th, defeated their rival LG in a comeback win the following day, marking their rise to a winning streak after four days since their game against the Jamsil Kiwoom Heroes on the 15th.
The victories on the 19th and 21st were not just simple wins. Even while behind, they did not give up, and regardless of experience, both veterans and rookies dove for the balls coming their way. The synergy of the baby bears, who had increased opportunities under the interim management of Jung Soo-bin, Kim Jae-hwan, and Yang Eui-ji, was also apparent. Observations captured the young infielders accumulating experience and gradually showcasing plays akin to 'first-team players.'
“Hustle Doo should not give up, and should be sticky, become a team that the opponent cannot easily see as a united front. If you do not understand the meaning of Hustle Doo, you do not deserve to wear the Doosan uniform. Our fans also want to see that. It would be great if the invisible stickiness that Doosan possesses could manifest,” said the interim manager, a message that was reflected in the team's performance over the two games.
The awakened Doosan is aiming for its third consecutive win against LG on the 22nd, marking the first such streak in 38 days since May 15 against the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles. Left-handed rookie Choi Seung-yong has taken on this crucial role.
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