It was too impressive to leave the mound.
The Lotte Giants’ sixth-year right-handed fireballer Jung Seong-jong was dazzling in his debut start.
Jeong started the first game of the midweek against Samsung at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 27th. He replaced ace Na Kyun-ahn, who was sidelined with elbow inflammation. He took the mound for the first time with a huge task to revive the sagging team spirit온라인바카라.
He was expected to throw between 40 and 60 pitches. Lotte manager Larry Sutton said before the game, “I want him to use his strengths to fight.” Jung’s strengths are his fastball, which reaches 150 kilometres, and his control.
He pitched as expected. Over four innings, he dominated the Samsung bats, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four.
He did give up a walk, but nothing major. With two outs in the first inning, he gave up the first hit to Pirela, but struck out Kang Min-ho on an outside slider. In the bottom of the first, Rex’s third home run of the season, his first in 61 days, made it 2-0 and gave Jeong a lead.
In the second, he struck out Oh Jae-il with a fastball to lead off and then walked Kang Sung-ul. He then gave up a fastball to Cho Min-sung at 3B1S, but it went straight to the first baseman for an out.
The third inning was the most critical. After a leadoff walk to Ryu Seung-min, Lee Jae-hyun hit a double off the fence. Kim Hyun-jun followed with a single to put runners on first and second. However, Kim Ji-chan grounded out to first base to end the inning with runners on first and third.
The fourth inning started with Pirela striking out the first batter. At 61 pitches, Lotte went to the bullpen in the fifth inning with a 2-0 lead. He used a fastball that topped out at 151km/h, a sharp-angled slider, a forkball and a two-seamer to take away timing.
He’s a complete pitcher with end-of-ball strength, a changeup, and a secondary pitch. He has the makings of a starter.
A pleasant surprise on the mound for Lotte. It was a hopeful pitch from Jung Sung-jong that revitalised the team’s mood, which had slumped to last place in June with a 6-16 record amid a six-game losing streak. It was also a great pitching performance that cleared the air after a major coaching staff change before the game.