SBS Plus 'Special Baseball Live Broadcast - Fireworks Fighters vs. Dong-A University' heated up the living rooms on Sunday with the victory of the Fireworks Fighters.
The match, held on the 20th at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, captured the attention of baseball fans as it was the second live broadcast in the history of the franchise, ending with the Fireworks Fighters' victory of 12-4 following their first live broadcast against Inha University.
The broadcast recorded a peak target viewership rating of 1.1% (Nielsen Korea Paid Broadcasting Standards in the Metropolitan Area), and the peak viewership rating soared to 2.3%. Additionally, the peak viewership reached 266,000, proving the popularity of viewers, which was terrifyingly high following the last live broadcast.
Reactions from viewers after the broadcast were also explosive. Viewers said, 'Manager Kim Seong-geun's unexpected bold starting lineup worked perfectly', 'It was great to see Shin Jae-young on the mound and Park Jun-young being used as a starter, and Song Seung-jun finishing things off smoothly. Everyone was amazing!', 'I was glad to see the strengthened player depth of the Fireworks Fighters', 'I was surprised to suddenly see Ji-sung, Lee Bo-young, and their two children in the audience during the live broadcast; it seems the Ji-sung-Lee Bo-young family are fans of the Fireworks Fighters. It was nice to see. This is the charm of live broadcasting', 'I love the Fireworks Fighters and SBS Plus for bringing us the joy of victory every time there is a live broadcast!', 'When is the next live broadcast scheduled? I will be sure to catch it live!' among other pieces of feedback.
Before the game, players who participated in the pre-interview showcased their wit and engaged in a psychological battle. Kim Min-beom, a player belonging to both teams, appeared in a Dong-A University uniform and expressed, 'I haven't shown much in the Fireworks Fighters until now. I want to show my skills without being nervous today to catch Manager Kim Seong-geun's eye. Therefore, I want to participate in many games in the future.' Lee Taek-geun noted, 'Since the opponent has strong hitting, the fielders need to help,' but added, 'Having the second live broadcast made me reminisce about my KBO days. I am very happy and grateful.'
Amid the intense psychological battle, Manager Kim Seong-geun, a member of the Dong-A University class of 1960, unveiled a surprising starting lineup against his alma mater, surprising everyone by naming Park Jun-young as the starting pitcher. It was a bold decision that seemed to send a message of 'Let the college players compete against each other.' In addition, players like Shin Jae-young and Song Seung-jun, who had previously been hard to see, also made appearances, much to the delight of the audience. As if to repay Manager Kim Seong-geun's trust, the Fireworks Fighters showcased exceptional performances from both pitchers and batters, effectively shutting down Dong-A University's batting lineup.
In particular, Park Jae-wook hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning, giving the Fireworks Fighters a two-point lead, and Shin Jae-young, who followed Park Jun-young, pitched well, while Lee Dae-ho hit a massive grand slam over the left wall with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, securing a commanding lead of 7-2. Additionally, Park Jae-wook added another two points with a double, extending the score to 9-2. The Fireworks Fighters then added three more points in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Song Seung-jun and Seong Seong-kwon successfully stifled Dong-A University's batting lineup to finish the game at 12-4.
For the day's 'Player of the Match,' Lee Dae-ho and Song Seung-jun were selected. In a subsequent interview, Lee Dae-ho humbly said, 'I was trailing due to missing chances at the beginning but was lucky enough to hit a grand slam. This allowed me to play more comfortably. Park Jun-young and Shin Jae-young also pitched well after a long time coming back.' He continued, 'Many people came to watch the game again this time, and I am grateful. I will repay you with good games in the future,' he smiled.
Song Seung-jun expressed his gratitude to Manager Kim Seong-geun for giving him an opportunity to pitch after a long time. He remarked, 'My pitching form isn't exactly at its peak, but since I did my best, I would give myself a score of 100. It's different from when I was an active player, but every time I step on the mound, my heart swells. I will continue to do my best.' This statement received a warm round of applause.
[Photo] SNS, SBS Plus
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