Lotte → First win after replacing Kiwoom Shock Head Coach...Lim Ji-yeol's first four-hit fire bat in 12 years since his debut + Wells farewell match QS
Jul 22, 2025
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Kiwoom won 6-3 in the first game of the Weekday Series against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 22nd with starter Wells' quality start (more than 6 innings and less than 3 earned runs) and Lim Ji-yeol's fire bat, which achieved his first four-hit game since his debut.
On the day when 15,362 baseball fans visited Gocheok to cheer for them, Kiwoom Acting Manager Seol Jong-jin, who suddenly took the helm of the first team during the All-Star break, recorded his first victory as the first team head coach. Kiwoom's first four consecutive games in the second half of the Daegu Samsung Lions match, which was caught up in heavy rain, were played only on the 20th, and Kiwoom lost 10-15.
With this victory, Kiwoom recorded its 28th win (three draws and 62 losses) this season. Although it has completely moved away from autumn baseball, it has maintained a winning rate of 30%, the psychological Maginot line of professional baseball teams.
On the other hand, Lotte lost for the 42nd time (48 wins and 3 draws) due to the loss, showing a slump of 1 win and 3 losses in the second half. Thanks to the upset loss to the KIA Tigers by allowing a tying three-run home run to LG Twins' Park Hae-min, the team avoided a fourth-place fall.
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Lotte faced off with Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Han Tae-yang (second base), Reyes (left wing), Jeon Joon-woo (designated hitter), Yoon Dong-hee (right wing), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Kim Min-sung (third base), Jung Hoon (first base) and Jeon Min-jae (striker). The first choice is Na Kyun An.
On the same day, Kiwoom registered foreign hitter Cardinez and rookie pitcher Kim Min-joo, who returned from injury for the first time in seven weeks. As Wells left after completing a six-week contract for the last time, he played two consecutive farewell games following Stone in the last game.
Kiwoom, which already kicked Puig out and recruited Alcantara, will use the remaining one replacement right for the pitcher. With this, Cardinez will be with Kiwoom until the end of this season. "I will decide the position (outfield-1 base) after seeing the feeling of hitting," Kiwoom's acting head coach Seol Jong-jin said.
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Kiwoom picked the first point first. After one out in the bottom of the first inning, Lim Ji-yeol hit a left-handed hit, and Lotte left fielder Reyes stepped to second base while defending loosely. Lee Joo-hyung's timely hit followed by a light one point.
In the bottom of the second inning, hero Lim Ji-yeol led the team's attack by hitting a timely two-run hit to the right-center with two outs and a bases loaded with Joo Sung-won's pitch, Kim Gun-hee's infield hit, and Song Sung-moon's walk.
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However, Lotte allowed Wells to start quality in the top of the sixth inning when Jung Hoon and Jeon Min-jae struck out one after another in a chance to turn around with one out and runners on the first and second bases.
And Lotte's anxiety about winning the match turned out to be a reality. Jung Cheol-won was put in early in the bottom of the sixth inning, but he allowed consecutive hits. The one-out full base crisis followed by Hong Min-ki's 463 double play over Kiwoom Eo Jun-seo.
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Kiwoom, who took the lead, locked the back door by putting in setup man Won Jong-hyun in the eighth inning and closing Joo Seung-woo in the ninth inning. Lotte got on base with a pitch hit by Na Seung-yeop in the top of the ninth inning, and pinch runner Kim Dong-hyuk took advantage of the wild pitch to step to third base. But it failed to make a chase.
Kiwoom comforted their disappointing farewell to Wells with a victory, although Cardinez was tied up with no hits in four at-bats.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
