“It’s not like before, but…”
NC Park Min-woo (30) showed valuable performance and led the team to victory. A performance that gave NC an 87.5% chance. He hit multiple hits and even stole bases. This steal was especially big.안전놀이터
Minwoo Park started as the second hitter and second baseman in the first game of the 2023 KBO semi-playoffs against SSG held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 22nd and showed off his performance with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 stolen base, and 1 run. Thanks to this, NC also won 4-3.
First of all, starter Shin Min-hyuk pitched well in 5.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and no runs. Kim Young-gyu also pitched 1.1 perfect innings. Although Ryu Jin-wook conceded one run and Lee Yong-chan conceded two, they still maintained the victory.
In addition to Park Min-woo, Kim Seong-wook flew in the batting lineup. He came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th inning and hit a two-run gun to left-center. It’s the final shot. Afterwards, he laughed as he added 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning.
Looking at the entire game, Kim Seong-wook’s two-run home run in the top of the 8th inning was decisive. However, without two additional runs in the top of the 9th inning, there would be no victory. Park Min-woo stood at the center.
In the top of the 9th inning, he hit a single as the lead hitter and entered second base on Do Tae-hoon’s sacrifice bunt. In Jason Martin’s next at-bat, he unexpectedly succeeded in stealing third base. It was truly a surprise steal. He ran on the second pitch with the count 1-0.
Here, Martin hit a timely hit to the right to call Min-Woo Park home. They ran away from 2-1 to 3-1. Afterwards, Martin’s stolen base and Seo Ho-cheol’s timely hit made it 4-1. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Ha Jae-hoon gave up a two-run gun, but NC took the win.
I met Park Min-woo after the game. “I tend to steal third base a lot,” he said with a slight smile. “I can’t do it like I did when I was a rookie or before.” My speed decreased and my confidence also decreased. So I paid a lot of attention to details. “I talk a lot with the base running coach,” he said.
He continued, “Stealing third base must be bold. Boldness is really important. I was confident in that part. Everyone asked, ‘How did you think about playing in that situation?’ There was no pressure. The timing has come. Noh Kyung-eun was once kept in check by his senior. He saw no additional checks. “Of course, if he dies, he is a traitor,” he said with a laugh.
On this day, he had a hard time with opposing starter Roenis Elias. He did not score a single run until the seventh inning. Park Min-woo said, “It can’t be helped. Elias is very good at hitting the ball. He pointed out, “I was able to control the throw at 150 km/h.”
He continued, “We say among ourselves, ‘If the pitcher pitches well, even if Trout comes, he won’t be able to hit.’ Elias threw well. Instead, we just have to do the best we can. It was that kind of atmosphere. “Even though they were dragged away, the atmosphere did not subside,” he emphasized.
That’s how I caught the first game. It has meaning. “After the second game, I will return to Changwon. Shouldn’t we win at least one game? There are fans waiting in Changwon. You will be cheering us on even more. We will play in a good atmosphere. The first game was important. “I can rest well and prepare for the second game tomorrow,” he said.