The Daegu Samsung-Keum game on the 26th of this month was a game that brought to mind Yogi Berra’s quote, “It’s not over until it’s over. Samsung rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the eighth inning to win 6-5 with a grand slam by Oh Jae-il.
Down 2-5, Samsung attacks in the bottom of the eighth inning. Leadoff hitter Lee Jae-hyun and Kim Ji-chan drew walks against second pitcher Moon Sung-hyun. The Samsung bench brought in Kang Min-ho to pinch-hit for Kim Jae-sung. Kang Min-ho walked to first base on a ball hit to the body. No outs. In the top of the eighth inning, Oh Jae-il, who had been substituted on defense, came to the plate with a golden opportunity.
He faced the third pitcher, Lee Myung-jong, with a 1B-0S count and pulled a two-pitch slider over the right-field fence. With the game tied at 6-5, Daegu Samsung Lions Park erupted into a frenzy. Oh circled first base and raised his right arm in celebration.
Manager Park Jin-man and head coach Lee Byung-kyu greeted him as all the runners in scoring position came home. Captain Koo Ja-rook hugged Oh Jae-il and celebrated like it was his job, while MBC Sports Plus commentator Lee Sang-hoon, who called the game, said, “I wonder if Samsung has been waiting for this scene. It’s a great moment.”
With a one-run lead, Samsung brought in ‘closer’ Oh Seung-hwan in the ninth inning. The ‘eldest brother’ retired all three batters he faced – Jeon Byung-woo, Song Sung-moon, and Kim Hye-sung – to secure the save. With the 6-5 win over Kiwoom, Samsung evened their three-game weekend series at 1-1. Head coach Park Jin-man’s postgame recap was short but sweet. “It was a game without words. Oh Jae-il saved the day.”
“I’m glad I hit a home run to help the team win when we were losing,” Oh said in an interview with MBC Sports Plus.
He continued, “With the bases loaded, I was thinking more about hitting the center of the bat than home runs or hits. As soon as it hit, I knew it was a home run. I had goosebumps when I turned around on the field after hitting the home run.”
His teammates, including captain Koo Ja-uk and Kang Min-ho, were overjoyed by his home run. In response, Oh thanked his teammates, saying, “They were so happy as if they had hit it themselves, so I was really touched.”
Oh is now batting 18-for-48 (259 at-bats) with nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and 23 runs scored this season. It’s a far cry from the reputation he’s gotten so far. He has been working hard to regain his batting touch, being the first one on the field to swing the bat before each game. His teammates know how hard he works, so they’re happy for him.토토사이트
“My performance has dropped a lot this season, but I’m not giving up and I’m thinking positively to get one more hit every game,” Oh said.