Noh Jin-hyeok (34, Lotte Giants) hit a timely hit that made his former team, the NC Dinos, cry the day before. However, NC did not lose twice.안전놀이터
NC won 3-1 in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO league away game against Lotte Giants held at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 24th. With this, NC broke the link of 2 consecutive losses and turned the 3 game in a row to the starting point.
In this series, the second ‘Nakdong River Derby’ this season, Lotte won 2-0 on the first day. While starter Na Gyun-an (25) pitched 6 scoreless innings, Lotte scored a goal without missing a chance in the 4th inning and was able to bring a thrilling victory after a close battle.
At the end of the 4th inning, Lotte had a chance to score on the 2nd and 3rd bases with a hit by Jeon Jun-woo (37) and a double by An Chi-hong (33) after a run. Here, Han Dong-hee (24) scored a huge sacrifice fly to the left fielder and scored the first point. Lotte was able to add an additional point as the next hitter Noh Jin-hyuk hit a timely right hit.
Noh Jin-hyeok, who recorded 1 hit and 1 RBI in 3 at-bats in the game on the 23rd, was unable to enter the starting lineup in the game the next day. Before the game, Lotte coach Larry Sutton said, “This is to create a game that wins when a left-handed pitcher meets,” and said, “The team is struggling against left-handed pitchers this year.”
Noh Jin-hyeok recorded a batting average of 0.174 (4 hits in 23 at-bats) against left-handed pitchers this year, but he was omitted when NC announced that he would start with left-hander Choi Seong-young (26). Hearing the news of Noh Jin-hyeok’s absence, NC coach Kang In-kwon (51) joked, “I will have to tell him not to come out tomorrow.”
However, Noh Jin-hyeok was put into the game faster than expected. Lotte, trailing by 0-2, seized a chance at the end of the 4th inning with Kook Hae-seong (34) and Kim Min-soo (25) on consecutive walks and Ji Ji-wan (29)’s sacrifice bunt to get one out, second and third base. Then, the Lotte bench pitched Roh Jin-hyeok as a pinch hitter in the ninth at-bat Lee Hak-joo (33).
Against Noh Jin-hyeok, who ate a bowl of rice in NC until last year, Choi Seong-young threw sliders one after another. In the end, Noh Jin-hyeok swung his bat and struck out at the slider that flowed outward from the ball count, 2 balls, and 2 strikes. He looked back regretfully and headed for the dugout.
Lotte gave Noh Jin-hyeok one more chance. Noh Jin-hyeok greeted NC’s second pitcher Cho Min-seok (25) at the 1st and 2nd base made by Kim Min-soo’s walk and sacrifice bunt. Cho Min-seok chose all five balls he threw against Noh Jin-hyeok as forkballs. This time, Jinhyeok Noh could not stand the forkball on the ball count of 2-2 and struck out on a swing.
Even in the attack, NC unexpectedly received help from Noh Jin-hyuk, not help. In the NC attack at the beginning of the 8th inning, Park Kun-woo (33) hit a deep ball toward the shortstop. Shortstop Noh Jin-hyeok caught the batted ball with a backhand and threw it to first base, but it was short. Park Kun-woo, who went out like this, stepped home when Seo Ho-cheol (27) doubled the 7th and made a two-point lead.