When Lotte started the month of June with a three-game sweep of KIA, it looked like the momentum would continue. However, they dropped a three-game series at home to KT, their first four-game losing streak of the season, and then followed that up with a series sweep of Samsung and Hanwha. Their record in their last 10 games is just 2-8.
Lotte fell 4-5 in extra innings against Hanwha at Sajik Stadium on May 15. Jack Rex’s dramatic tiebreaking RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning sent the game into extra innings, but they were ultimately outclassed by Chae Eun-sung in the top of the 10th.
It was a disappointing game in terms of both outcome and content. Sloppy defense by the pitcher and first baseman allowed only two bunt hits, and in the bottom of the eighth inning, Yoo Kang-nam threw cold water on the game when he was tagged out trying to run to second base after hitting a single. In hindsight, allowing 14 hits and 10 walks and expecting to win may have been a luxury.
Add to that the loss of starting shortstop Noh Jin-hyuk to a side injury, and Lotte’s anxiety is growing. Noh played a key role in both offense and defense. However, after complaining of pain in his left side during batting practice, he was removed from the first team roster. We don”t know how long he”ll be out for. We have to wait for the results of the medical examination. “We’re hoping it’s not a serious injury,” said Lotte coach Larry Sutton.
Han Dong-hee returned to the lineup after a stint in the second team, but she struck out twice and went 0-for-4. “Han Dong-hee worked hard in the second team. She showed improvement from 10 days ago,” Sutton said.
Lotte is set to embark on a fateful nine-game series in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, starting with a three-game weekend series against SSG on the 먹튀검증 16th. On the 20th, they’ll face KT, who handed Lotte their first four-game losing streak of the season, and on the 23rd, they’ll host leader LG. It’s a tough schedule.
Lotte anticipated that SSG would start three left-handed pitchers, one after the other, and added catching prospect Son Seong-bin to the first team roster after his return from Commerce. Sutton said, “We know that SSG will start three left-handed pitchers. Therefore, we needed a right-handed resource, so we called up Sung-bin Son,” Sutton said. In addition, left-handed reliever Kim Jin-wook is on the verge of joining the first team. “There’s a chance he’ll be in the first team soon,” Sutton said.
The team is making all the right preparations, but in the end, if their performance doesn’t improve, they won’t be able to win. Lotte suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss against Hanwha on the 15th, even with their ‘ace’ Na Kyun-ahn on the mound. There’s not much time to breathe now. Can Lotte, which has been on a downward spiral lately, make a comeback in the fateful nine-game series?