KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile

Apr 16, 2025

KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
Lotte Barnes applauds. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.04.10/



KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
The KBO League exhibition game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 9th. Lotte starter Barnes comes down the mound after pitching in the first inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.09/
KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
photo courtesy of Lotte Giants
Lotte Giants Barnes has regained the prowess of the ace for the first time in a long time.

Barnes pitched well with one run in seven innings in Game 2 of the Weekday Series against the Kiwoom Heroes at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 16th.

The maximum speed of fastballs (37) was a little lower than when they were at their best at 145km, but the sharpness of the main weapons slider (31) and the two-seam (8), which had little difference in speed, was different. In particular, there was literally no "left-handed winner" for the left-handed hitters who made up the main axis of Kiwoom's batting lineup, and the change-up (14), which controls the level of speed, was added to the right-handed hitters.




Barnes didn't get off to a good start this season. He had one win and three losses in the previous four games.

On March 22, his first appearance of the season, he showed his worst pitching since his KBO League debut with seven runs in three innings against the LG Twins. Six days later, he pitched well against KT Wiz with one run in seven innings, but in April, he gave six runs (four earned) in six ⅓ innings to the Doosan Bears and three runs in five innings against the KIA Tigers, all of which did not meet expectations.

On top of that, it was the next game after Kim Jin-wook and Na Kyun-an, the native 4th and 5th starters, who showed relentless momentum at the beginning of the season, collapsed one after another. Although the team's batting lineup revived and regained its overall composure, the ace was responsible for holding the team here and leading it to a winning streak.




KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
photo courtesy of Lotte Giants
And Barnes perfectly met the expectations of the head coach. Barnes' biggest crisis, which ended the first inning with a three-way withdrawal, was the second.

Cardinez's walk and Park Joo-hong's hit faced a crisis on the first and third bases with no outs. However, he did not repeat his regret. Puig struck out four pitches and Eo Jun-seo three pitches.

He only used sliders and changeups to Kim Gun-hee. After the full count match, he led a swing and miss with a 133-km slider in the sixth pitch to overcome the crisis without losing a point.




Barnes, who was resilient, passed all three to five innings with a three-way strikeout perfect. In particular, it was the highlight that Puig, Eo Jun-seo, and Kim Gun-hee, who met again in the fifth inning, struck out once again for three consecutive times. In the sixth inning, he gave up a hit to leadoff hitter pinch hitter Lim Ji-yeol, but he finished without any special crisis.

KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
photo courtesy of Lotte Giants
In the meantime, the team also led with Hwang Sung-bin's home steal in the first inning and Jang Doo-sung's timely hit in the second inning. In the fourth inning, he steadily added three points with Kim Min-sung's timely hit and Jang Doo-sung and Hwang Sung-bin's infield ground ball with no outs. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kiwoom's first baseman Cardinez's foot fell when Jeon Joon-woo's infield ground ball was followed by a lucky hit.

As the number of pitches was somewhat small, he also took the mound in the seventh inning. He allowed a run this time. Leading hitter Cardinez went out with a triple to hit the top of the right fence, and Park Joo-hong's infield ground ball allowed one run. After two outs, Eo Jun-seo's hit and Kim Gun-hee's RBI double gave up the second run.

However, he struck out Jeon Tae-hyun and finished cleanly. It was good pitching with two runs and 11 strikeouts in seven innings. With the revival of Barnes, Lotte is also feeling the scent of spring belatedly.

KKK → 7 innings 11K with no outs on the first and third bases…Busan's Ace Reclaims His Smile
photo courtesy of Lotte Giants




This article was translated by Naver AI translator.