Despite starter Choi Seung-yong’s brilliant pitching, the batting line struggled and eventually the game went to overtime. Four bullpen pitchers, centered on Pil Seung-jo, were used, and Park Jeong-soo (27, Doosan Bears) was the firefighter at the start of the 11th inning.
In the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League home game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 25th, Park Jung-soo made a relief mound from second base with no runner in the top of the 11th inning when the two teams faced off 3-3, and blocked one inning with a three-way exit.
At the end of the 11th inning, Doosan won 4-3 thanks to an opponent’s error and Kim Jae-ho’s final hit, and Park Jung-soo became the protagonist of the season’s first victory.
It was a game that was difficult to predict. The starting pitchers of both teams played well, and the winning group was activated, and a winning team could not be found until the ninth inning.
In the 10th inning, Samsung seemed to have a chance to win by scoring a point, but Doosan did not give up and recovered 1 point, leading the game to the 11th inning.
It was second-year left pitcher Lee Byung-hun who took the mound in the top of the 11th inning. However, with a ball count of 0-2, he threw 4 balls in a row to get the runner on base, and as if conscious of the changed runner An Joo-hyung, he even made a mistake with the first baseman’s mitt.
The Doosan bench moved. He reluctantly dropped Lee Byung-hun and chose right pitcher Park Jeong-soo. Park Chi-guk and Jeong Cheol-won had already started, and closer Hong Gun-hee, who pitched 2 innings, also gave up 1 run in 10 innings and withdrew. Although his shoulders were heavy, Park Jeong-soo caught Kim Young-woong out of the loop and caught a looking strikeout with a curve that outwitted Kim Tae-goon, even though he was driven to third base with Kim Tae-gun’s forward bunt, and induced pinch hitter Kim Hyeon-joon to foul fly to left field, ending the inning.
The phrase “opportunity after crisis” and “crisis after opportunity” fit perfectly. Samsung, which failed to capitalize on the opportunity, was shaken, and Doosan did not miss this opportunity and dug in. Samsung second baseman Kim Dong-jin missed lead batter Kim Jae-hwan’s batted ball, and Lee Tae-hoon missed an ordinary fly ball outside the first base foul line from second baseman 1st and 2nd base. Afterwards, with a walk and Kim Jae-ho’s left-handed hit, the game ended with Doosan’s victory.
Along with Kim Jae-ho, Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop picked Park Jeong-soo as a best player. Manager Lee praised Park Jeong-soo’s guts for pitching scoreless in a crisis situation on the mound.
Park Jeong-soo said, “It was a difficult situation, but I climbed the mound with the determination to ‘block it unconditionally’. I’m glad I blocked it well.” told스포츠토토
This season I still spent more time in the 2nd team than in the 1st team. Until this day, only 4 games and 7⅔ innings were all the opportunities given to him. However, he is second to none when it comes to confidence. He said, “I am in good condition and there is no pain anywhere,” and “I always had a good flow, but then I collapsed while in pain.
Taking this day as an opportunity, I made a clear impression on director Lee Seung-yeop. Park Jeong-soo said, “It is true that I was nervous because I did not have much experience in important situations,” but he said, “If I continue to throw well, I will be able to pitch in important situations. I will prepare harder.”