After going 50 games without a blown save since the start of the regular season, SSG Landers’ Seo Jin-yong was handed his first blown save of the season, but he saved his pride as a closer by pitching two innings.
SSG wrapped up a three-game weekend series with a sweep of the Doosan Bears in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League with an 8-5 win in the 11th game of the season at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday. Their season record is 59 wins, 1 tie, and 47 losses.
On the day, SSG was led by its bats, including Ha Jae-hoon and Choi Jeong-ho, and its bullpen, which put together a no-hit relay after starter Moon Seung-won’s three-inning stint. With a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, it looked like they were going to seal the win with ‘Blond Save Zero’ Seo Jin-yong.
Seo was cruising until he struck out leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan, but back-to-back singles by Jeong Soo-bin and Kim Jae-ho put runners on first and third. The mood on the field changed dramatically, as Seo gave up a run on Jose Rojas’ fly ball to center field that scored Jeong Soo-bin from third, ending his streak of 51 games without a blown save.
But the bats came through. In the top of the 10th inning, SSG regained the lead with an RBI single by Jeon Eui-san, followed by an RBI double by Kim Sung-hyun to make it 8-5 and move one step closer to victory.
The SSG bench sent Seo Jin-yong to the mound in the bottom of the 10th. They wanted the closer to finish the game, blown save or not. After a leadoff walk to Park Kye-beom, Seo retired Kang Seung-ho and Park Joon-young, and Jang Seung-hyun struck out to end the game. He could only breathe a sigh of relief after securing the win.
After the game, SSG head coach Kim Won-hyung said, “Although Seo Jin-yong got his first blown save of the season, he’s been doing a great job. He pitched two innings today and made a big contribution to our victory. He really struggled,” and encouraged Seo Jin-yong. It was always going to be up to Seo Jinyong to protect the back door from the first half to the second half, and after coming down from the top spot, SSG didn’t have to worry about their closer, at least.토토사이트
From a player’s perspective, the first blown save of the season can be a moment of self-reflection. A blown save is no reason to celebrate and no reason to be disappointed. There are still 37 games left for Seo and SSG.