The Doosan Bears beat the Lotte Giants 13-8 at a home game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday. They escaped from two consecutive losses and blocked Lotte from winning its sixth consecutive game.핑크알바

Yang Eui-ji shone as the center hitter and homebody. First of all, he boasted two hits (two homers) from three times at bat (six RBIs). He showed off his excellent batting performance with two-run shots and a grand slam. Yang's grand slam was his 22nd in the league, 1,068th in his career, and ninth in his career this season. In addition, Yang garnered 10 homers in 11 consecutive seasons by drawing his 10th and 11th arches. It is the 14th and fourth highest record in the league as a catcher.

He also made history as the first player in the team. He and Yang completed two grand homers in a game at Jamsil Stadium. This is the first record since the inauguration of the KBO League.

When his team was losing 1-6, Yang took the batter's box with two outs and runners on the first base in the bottom of the third inning. Lotte starter Park Se-woong aimed for a 121 km/h curve. He connected with a two-run homer to the left with a 115-meter flying distance. He scored a 3-6 chase. The bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning when his team was trailing 9-8. Lotte reliever Park Jin hit a fastball of 147 km/h on the second pitch. He garnered a superior grand slam with a flying distance of 105 meters. The score was widened to 13-8.

He also led eight pitchers as the main catcher. Starting pitcher Raul Alcantara was substituted early for six runs in two innings, and worked with Kim Min-gyu, Lee Young-ha, Kim Kang-ryul, Park Chi-guk, Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-gang and Kim Taek-yeon.

After the game, Yang Eui-ji said, "I knew about it. I was trying to maintain my batting average even if I didn't get a home run because Jamsil Stadium was big," adding, "I think (Park) Se-woong hit the ball well. I was going out at the timing of the fast ball when a curve came in and hit it right away. I hit it strangely, but it went over well." He added, "I paid a lot of attention to my legs, but the ball seemed to have gained strength. It was a good day."

As for the homer in the ninth inning, he said, "I think it was a luck. Fans said, 'Oh! Move on!' and I think it really became a homer."

After hitting a come-from-behind grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning, Yang performed an intense ceremony by roaring. Yang was relatively quiet even when hitting a home run. Asked about it, Yang said, "No. I was radical, too. I don't usually raise my hand, but I raised my hand this time."

Regarding the record of two grand slams in the first game at Jamsil Stadium, Yang Eui-ji said, "I am happy and honored to be named in the league's first record. As I left a good record at the end of the first half, I will do my best to continue my performance in the second half."

Recently, he has been making various efforts. "Whether the bat fits well or not, we are constantly revising our batting coaches' posture and timing. We have tried many things including changing our form since last week, but this time it has been well established, which has led to good results," Yang said. "We look the same on the outside, but we are gradually adjusting the movement of our feet, the position of our hands, how to set timing and how to watch the ball."

Wasn't it hard to lead eight pitchers in one game? "It became difficult because Alcantara collapsed unfortunately from the beginning," Yang said. "Young pitchers led many innings and defended us well against important situations," Yang said. "Also, captain (Yang) Seok-hwan hit a home run well, so we were able to catch up quickly and come from behind."

In the top of the eighth inning, rookie closer Kim Taek-yeon, who took the mound as a relief pitcher with one out and a runner on the second base, took the mound when he was shaken by allowing a timely hit to the right and a hit ball to the body. Yang Eui-ji said, "I felt like I put a lot of strength in it. I had to hold the ball count well, but I kept starting with the ball. I told (Kim) Taek-yeon that your ball was the best, to throw it confidently, and to just get hit." Taek-yeon looked back, "I told her to stick to fastball confidently because it is her main weapon."

The first half of the season will come to an end with the match against Lotte in Jamsil on the 4th. "It's a shame that I took a lot of time off because I was sick here and there. But I'm glad that our Kim Ki-yeon is good. I feel really good to have another big catcher at my school," Yang said. Both Yang and Kim are from Gwangju Jinheung High School.

Yang Eui-ji said, "Young and young pitchers were not organized well at first, but now they have settled down in the middle and are doing a great job. I want to compliment them. I'm so proud of them," and added, "I think they will become stronger over the next 10 years. I think many of our pitchers will play for the national team." The interview ended with compliments from younger players.