It was a hot day at Lions Park in Daegu on the 20th, with a high temperature of over 30 degrees.
On a day when even standing still 안전놀이터 caused sweat to trickle down, Samsung Lions’ homegrown ace Won Tae-in cruised early against the KIA Tigers’ lineup.
In the top of the first inning, he gave up the first hit to Choi Won-joon, but he made a lightning-quick throw to catch the runner at second, drawing applause from the home fans. In the second inning, he gave up a hit to Na Sung-beom, but struck out to get the final out. In the top of the second, he retired the next three batters in order to set up a three-hit shutout inning.
But then there was an unexpected twist. As he took the mound to pitch the top of the third, a torrential downpour began. As the umpires called a halt to the game, so much rain fell that the first and third base dugouts, which are designed to be low to the ground, were ankle-deep in water.
The 2023 KBO League game between the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions was held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 20. The game is suspended due to rain before KIA’s offense in the top of the third inning.
The 2023 KBO League game between the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions was held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Tuesday. Samsung head coach Park Jin-man and assistant coach Lee Byung-kyu talk with umpire Choo Pyeong-ho before the game resumed after being suspended due to rain.
The rain, which had been pouring down with thunder, stopped as quickly as it had started within 30 minutes. However, puddles of water had already formed on the field. Thanks to Lions Park’s excellent drainage system, the water began to drain away little by little, and with the groundskeepers scrambling, the suspended game resumed in the 88th minute.
But Won Tae-in was strange. Taking the mound, Won began throwing the so-called “Arirang Ball” against KIA’s Kim Tae-gun. A 95-kilometer fastball was followed by a 79-kilometer second pitch. The third pitch, which became a fielder’s choice, was also 93 kilometers. Won Tae-in himself covered his mouth with his glove and smirked after getting the out. Shortly after Won got the first out, the Samsung bench called him out and brought in Kim Dae-woo.
The 2023 KBO League game between the KIA Tigers and Samsung Lions was held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 20. Samsung’s Won Tae-in walks down the mound in the third inning. Daegu=Heo Sang-wook 기자wook@sportschosun.com/2023.08.20/
According to Article 5, Paragraph 10 of the Baseball Rules, “Substitution of Players – Mound Visits,” “If a pitcher who is already in the game crosses the foul line at the beginning of an inning, that pitcher must pitch until the first batter is out or has reached first base. At the time of the rain interruption, Won Tae-in had crossed the foul line to pitch in the top of the third inning and was facing Kim Tae-gun, who was batting, so he had to complete his pitch before he could leave the mound.
Before the game resumed, Samsung manager Park Jin-man was seen talking to the umpire for a while. He seemed to be inquiring about the possibility of replacing Won Tae-in. With his shoulder already cooled down from the hour-long stoppage, Won had no choice but to throw the ‘arirang ball’ as he could have injured himself if he threw a fastball over 140 km/h again.