Is it really that far from a .500 winning percentage for manager Kim Tae-hyung, the 'master'? The Lotte Giants failed again to reach a .500 winning percentage after a 5-point loss on a Sunday.

Lotte lost 6-9 to the NC Dinos in the regular season game held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 13th. This left Lotte with 8 wins, 10 losses, and 1 tie.

Lotte targeted NC's starting pitcher Lee Yong-chan from the first inning. After a walk by lead-off batter Hwang Seong-bin and a single by Ko Seung-min, they loaded the bases with a walk to Na Seung-yeop. However, RAY struck out, and Yu Gang-nam popped up to the second baseman, resulting in two outs with the bases loaded.

However, Kim Min-seong managed to score the first run with a hit batter, followed by Jeon Jun-woo’s two-run double to left-center and Jang Du-seong’s two-run double to right-center, giving them a 5-0 lead.

However, this 5-point lead quickly vanished. The starting pitcher that day was Kim Jin-wook. As the 4th starter, he had recorded 1 win and 1 loss with an earned run average of 3.18 over 17 innings in 3 games this season. He was steadily becoming a more reliable pitcher. However, that day, Kim Jin-wook seemed to be off due to the effects of a 4-day rest, both in his velocity and control.

With a 5-point lead, Kim Jin-wook started well by retiring Kwon Hee-dong and Kim Joo-won. However, after two outs, he allowed a double to Son Ah-seop and then gave up a two-run home run to Park Han-gyeol. A 129 km slider came in flat and high down the middle. The next batter, Oh Young-soo, struck out, finishing the first inning.

I hoped the crisis would be short-lived in the first inning. However, Kim Jin-wook gave a straight walk to lead-off batter Davidson in the second inning. Manager Kim Tae-hyung came to the mound to talk with Kim Jin-wook. I am not sure what was discussed, but it is likely that an aggressive strategy was requested.

However, Kim Jin-wook faced Kim Hwi-jip and gave up a two-run homer on the first pitch, 142 km fastball. It was a fair match, but he was honest. Ultimately, they were caught up at 5-4. After that, Kim Jin-wook grew more unstable. He walked Kim Hyun-jun and retired Seo Ho-cheol with a flyout to left field, but then walked both Kwon Hee-dong and Kim Joo-won consecutively. Finally, with one out and the bases loaded, Kim Jin-wook had to leave the mound.

The next pitcher, Park Jin, allowed one run on a wild pitch after giving up a sacrifice fly to Son Ah-seop with one out and the bases loaded. Two of Kim Jin-wook’s responsibility runners scored. Kim Jin-wook's record was 1⅓ innings pitched, 3 hits allowed (2 home runs), 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 6 earned runs. The score flipped from 5-0 to 5-6 by the second inning.

It was supposed to turn into a slugfest, but after NC's starting pitcher Lee Yong-chan allowed 5 earned runs in 2 innings and left the game, Lotte could hardly capitalize on the situation. They were stifled with just 1 hit and 1 walk against NC's second pitcher, Son Joo-hwan, from the 3rd to the 5th innings. They only managed to get one walk off Kim Jin-ho, who came in during the 6th inning.

They started to retaliate from the 7th inning. Against Han Jae-seung, RAY hit a single to left field, and Jeong Bo-geun drew a walk, creating an opportunity with no outs on the first and second base. At the plate stood Kim Min-seong, who has been performing well lately and has good execution skills.

However, Kim Min-seong failed to execute a bunt against NC's newly changed pitcher Jeon Sa-min. He ended up hitting into a ground ball to the shortstop, ruining the situation with a double play. With two outs and a runner on third, Jeon Jun-woo revived the inning with a timely hit. Although it seemed like the inning should have ended with a foul fly out by the catcher, NC's catcher Kim Hyun-jun dropped the ball, extending the opportunity. Ultimately, he hit an infield single to the shortstop, bringing the runner from third home. They closed the gap to 6-7.

However, Lotte failed to score adequately given the chances they had. They tried hard to hold on to hope, but during the bottom of the 7th with two outs and a runner on first, they allowed a two-run home run to Kim Hyun-jun. The gap widened again to 6-9. It was virtually a dagger blow. Lotte finished the 8th inning without allowing any additional runs, but in the top of the 8th with two walks, they had a chance with one out and runners on first and second, but Na Seung-yeop and the pinch hitter Jeong Hoon both missed. It was unfortunate that RAY had to exit earlier in the 7th inning due to muscle pain.

With this, Lotte recorded a 3-game losing streak (1 tie, 3 losses) in Sunday matches this season. They suffered a crushing defeat to the LG Twins 2-10 in the opening series on March 23. Then, they had a 4-4 tie against KT at Sajik on March 30.

The situation in the Doosan game on the 6th last week was similar to this game. They took an early lead of 5-0 but failed to add runs, leading to constant comebacks and re-comebacks. Midway through the game, they again had a 5-point lead of 12-7 but shockingly gave up 8 runs and suffered a 12-15 loss.

And in that day’s Sunday game, they failed to hold onto a 5-point lead and faced a comeback loss. It is a situation that could make Lotte feel neurotic and superstitious.

Additionally, they failed to achieve a .500 winning percentage. Before the game on the 6th, they had a record of 5 wins, 6 losses, and 1 tie but failed with a 12-15 comeback loss. Once again, they had 8 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie and aimed for a .500 winning percentage, but they failed with another comeback loss.

Lotte has never achieved a .500 winning percentage under manager Kim Tae-hyung, who took over last year. Whether it's under 10 games or over 10 games, they have not managed to hit .500. The only consolation is that last year, at the time when they had played 19 games, their winning percentage was 4 wins and 15 losses.

Due to circumstances at NC Park in Changwon, Lotte played this 3-game series as the visiting team without any travel. The next series in the middle of the week will also be held at Sajik Stadium against the Kiwoom Heroes.

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