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| Chiba Lotte swept the opening three consecutive away games against Softbank last weekend. He shook the Softbank mound by scoring 20 points in three games. Photo capture = Chiba Lotte Marines SNS |
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| Photo capture=Chiba Lotte Marines SNS |
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| Photo capture=Chiba Lotte Marines SNS |
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At the beginning of the season, the team atmosphere of the Lotte Brothers in Korea and Japan flows completely differently. Lotte Giants, who are seeking another leap forward, are slowing down, and Chiba Lotte Marines is on a roll. Lotte of Korea finished the final game of its three consecutive weekend series against the KT Wiz at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 30th with a 4-4 draw in the 11th inning. He allowed one run in the top of the 11th inning and drove to 3-4 before tying the game at the bottom of the 11th inning. As of the 31st, he is in ninth place, five games behind the LG Twins, who had two wins, one draw and five losses and a winning rate of 0.286.
Chiba Lotte, which went on an away trip to Fukuoka, came from behind to win 7-4 against the Softbank Hawks on the 30th. He swept the opening three consecutive games with last year's Pacific League winner, Softbank. It is the first three-game winning streak in 13 years since 2012. He also swept the opening three consecutive games against the previous year's winning team for the first time in 68 years.
No one wrote an unexpected drama.
Softbank, which boasts the strongest power, is a strong favorite this season. Chiba Lotte lost to Softbank with eight wins, one draw and 16 losses last year. Against such a team, he gave up the first point for three consecutive days and succeeded in turning the tables. On the 28th, they came from behind to win the opening game 8-2 and won the game by 5-4 1 points on the 29th. In the game on the 29th, Oka hit the winning shot with one out and second base in the top of the 10th inning when the score was tied 4-4.
The concentration of the batters is scary.
On the last day of the three consecutive games, he was dragged by four points. In the top of the fifth inning, trailing 0-4, No. 4 hitter Neftali Soto hit a one-run home run in the middle of the month. No. 6 Gregory Polanco and No. 7 pinch hitter Hiromi Oka hit a series of timely doubles in the top of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on the first and third bases, bringing the game to square one. 4-4.
In the top of the eighth inning, the opposing pitcher succeeded in turning the tables with consecutive wild pitches. He then added two more runs with a sacrifice hit and a timely hit with the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth inning. He was strong in scoring chances.
Chiba Lotte scored a total of 20 points in three days. Micho Nishikawa, who joined as a rookie, had three consecutive hits and two RBIs. Softbank lost its opening three consecutive games for the first time in 37 years since 1988, when it was under Nankai. The collapse of the mound was painful. The pitching staff, which had a team ERA of 2.53 last year, collapsed in vain.
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| Lotte Kim Won-joong, who allowed a tiebreaking solo home run to SSG Eredia in the ninth inning |
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| Lotte coach Kim Tae-hyung is demonstrating his batting directly to the players. Incheon = Reporter Song Jeong-heon |
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| Sasaki made his second start of the season against Detroit on the 30th. He suffered from difficulties in controlling the ball, giving up four walks with two outs in the second inning. AP Yonhap News |
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Although he won three consecutive games in the opening period, manager Yoshii Masato expressed his regret about the starting pitcher. On the 28th, starting pitcher Kazuya Ojima allowed one run in four innings, Austin Bose allowed four runs in five innings on the 29th, and Tanichi Atsuki allowed four runs (one earned) in six innings on the 30th. The bullpen held out well, allowing a come-from-behind victory. There were 14 pitchers in three games, but only one pitcher pitched in a row.
However, it is said that Chiba Lotte's good trend at the beginning of the season is due to Sasaki Rocky (24). Sasaki, who represented Chiba Lotte, moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter after twists and turns. He also had a discord with the club over the transfer to the Major League. The main pitcher, who won 10 games last year, was missing, but it rather helped the team.
The explanation is interesting. Sasaki, who is famous for his fastball with a maximum speed of 165 kilometers per hour, has been a hot topic since his early days as a member of the team. He achieved the youngest perfect game at the age of 21 and added a major league challenge issue, raising attention. It was the same during spring camp and regular-season games. Broadcast cameras and reporters always followed. Major League scouts gathered. If the spotlight is poured on a specific player, it will inevitably affect other players. The atmosphere of training may be disrupted.
However, after Sasaki left, interest in Chiba Lotte fell less than before. It is argued that a good atmosphere has been formed for players to focus on training and baseball. Chiba Lotte is famous for its support from enthusiastic fans, but it is difficult to see it as a popular team.
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| Sasaki was replaced in the game against Detroit on the 30th without completing two innings. UPI Yonhap News |
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| Sasaki pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two runs and four walks. UPI Yonhap News |
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On the 30th, when Chiba Lotte won its opening three consecutive games, Sasaki was humiliated. He started the home game against the Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium and was replaced after two innings. He allowed three hits and two runs in one ⅔, giving up four walks. The ball shook wildly. Fortunately, the team came from behind to win 7-3, avoiding defeat.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
