On this day too,안전놀이터 Lim Ji-yeol (28)’s one shot shined. Kiwoom Heroes’ scene stealer Lim Ji-yeol put the brakes on the giant’s advance with a dramatic come-from-behind home run.
Kiwoom Heroes won 7-5 come-from-behind victory in Game 5 of the season against Lotte Giants in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 28th. As a result of this day, he broke his 4-game losing streak and stepped on the heights of 20 wins (28 losses) in the season.
The protagonist of the victory was Lim Ji-yeol (28). He appeared as a pinch hitter and delivered an intense performance of 1 at bat (1 home run), 4 RBIs and 1 walk, helping the team to escape from the swamp of 4 consecutive losses.
Lim Ji-yeol, who started the game from the bench, appeared as a pinch hitter for Kim Joon-wan at third base with one out, 1 out and 3rd base in the 7th inning with a score of 1-5, picked out a walk, and supported Kim Hye-sung’s 1 RBI infield grounder.
[OSEN = Correspondents Gocheok and Min Kyung-hun] In the bottom of the 8th inning, 2nd runner Kiwoom Lim Ji-yeol is hitting a home run with the bases full in mid-month. 2023.05.28 / rumi@osen.co.kr
The highlight was the second at-bat. In the 8th inning, when the score was trailing 5-7, with 2 outs and bases loaded, the game was overturned with a dramatic come-from-behind home run. Lim Ji-yeol preoccupied the 2B-1S advantageous count, then hit Lotte Yoon Myeong-jun’s 140km fastball and connected it to the first grand slam home run in his personal career.
After the match, Lim Ji-yeol said, “I tried to do only what I could, so good results came out. As soon as he hit, he had an idea that there would be good results. The team was on a losing streak, so I wanted to focus on winning, but I feel good that I helped that,” he smiled brightly.
How does it feel to hit a home run for the first time since his professional debut? Lim Ji-yeol said, “Rather than being meaningful because it’s a grand home run, the team was on a losing streak, and it feels better because it’s a home run that can end it.”
[OSEN = Correspondents Gocheok and Min Kyung-hun] In the bottom of the 8th inning, 2nd runner Kiwoom Lim Ji-yeol is stepping on the home run after hitting a home run with the bases loaded in the middle of the month. 2023.05.28 / rumi@osen.co.kr
Lim Ji-yeol, who joined Nexen, the predecessor of Kiwoom, in 2014, is famous as a ‘scene stealer’ who delivers intense blows in every battle. In particular, his performance in the last two years is impressive. He showed off his strong side in big games by hitting home runs in all of last year’s semi-playoffs, playoffs, and Korean series, and this year, he even tasted his first home run in his personal career against NC on the 13th.
Lim Ji-yeol smiled shyly, saying, “I think I have a bit of a star quality.” I also hope that it will be an opportunity for the team to rebound.”
