Doosan Bears’ “homegrown ace” pitcher Kwak-Bin Kwak picked up his third win of the season and extended his team’s winning streak to eight games. The day was made all the more meaningful by the fact that he teamed up with junior Choi Jun-ho, who earned his first career start in the doubleheader.
On May 12, Kwak started the second game of a doubleheader against KT WIZ at Jamsil Stadium and pitched six innings of three-hit ball with eight strikeouts and two walks in the team’s 8-4 victory.
Doosan put runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the first inning when Jung Soo-bin singled and Heo Kyung-min walked. Kang Seung-ho followed with a two-run double down the left field line to open the scoring. Yang then followed with an RBI single to left to make it 3-0.
After Kwak-Bin kept KT’s bats out of trouble through the top of the third inning, Doosan’s home run barrage continued in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the third inning, Ramos hit a two-pitch 126 km/h changeup from Yook Cheong-myeong for a two-run homer to right field that traveled 110 meters to extend the lead to 5-0. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jeon Min-jae hit a 140 km/h fastball from Yuk Cheong-myeong for a two-run arch over the left-field fence.
Kwak-Bin faced a bases-loaded situation in the top of the fifth inning after giving up two walks and a hit by pitch. However, Kwak got Kang Baek-ho to fly out to second base to end the inning and earn his third win of the season without allowing an earned run. Kwak continued his quality start in the top of the sixth with a triple play on the mound.
Doosan gave up three consecutive runs in the seventh through ninth innings, but relievers Choi Ji-kang and Hong Gun-hee were available to preserve Kwak’s three wins and the lead.
“I was worried about what would happen if I broke the streak, but my brothers helped me keep it going,” Kwak said after the game, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“I think I’m the only one who doesn’t have to break the streak now. In fact, I was the one who broke the streak last year.”
Doosan went on an 11-game winning streak last year from July 1 against the Ulsan Lotte Giants to July 25 against the Jamsil Lotte. On July 26 against Jamsil 바카라사이트 Lotte, Kwak took the loss after giving up four runs in five innings.
If the team continues to win without a rainout until his next start, he will have to pitch in a 12-game winning streak.
“Of course, there will be pressure in that situation, but I think it’s an opportunity to grow,” Kwak said.
On the day, Kwak worked with backup catcher Kim Ki-yeon to combine for a scoreless inning.
“Today, I shook my head a little bit (at the catcher’s sign), and then I got hit, so I thought I should listen to (Kim),” Kwak said. “He’s a catcher who always makes the pitcher feel comfortable. In the fifth inning with the bases loaded, I was very excited, and he came up to the mound and relaxed me. That’s a big thing for me,” he said.
Choi Jun-ho, who pitched six innings of two-run ball in the first game of the doubleheader to earn his first win, is Kwak’s roommate.
When asked if it was inspiring to see a junior who shares a room with him pitch first and get the win, Kwok Bin said, “When I see Junho, I think of 2021 (when I was the first starter). Compared to me back then, Junho is a much better player with much more potential,” he said.
Choi Jun-ho, who is just getting his chance as a starter, is lucky to have Kwak Bin as a mentor.
“Junho asks me 30 questions a day. He asks me what time I eat before a start, what time I play catch, and so on. I learned from (teammate) Choi Won-joon, and now it’s my turn to teach him,” he said, showing a sense of responsibility.