Benjamin survived with 3 runs in 5 innings

I tried to endure as much as possible despite various variables. After completing 5 innings, he came off the mound.

KT Wiz Wes Benjamin started in the home game against NC Dinos in the second game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO postseason playoffs (best of 5 games) held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 31st. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits (1 home run), no walks, 2 strikeouts, and 3 runs.

The total number of pitches was 82 (57 strikes). He threw a mix of four-seam fastballs (39), cutters (21), sliders (18), changeups (3), and two-seam fastballs (1). The highest four-seam velocity was 149 km/h.

On this day, KT had Kim Sang-soo (shortstop) - Hwang Jae-gyun (third baseman) - Anthony Alford (left fielder) - Park Byeong-ho (first baseman) - Jang Seong-woo (catcher) - Moon Sang-cheol (designated hitter) - Jo Yong-ho (right fielder) - Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder) - Park Kyung-soo. The starting lineup consisted of (second baseman).

NC: Son Ah-seop (designated hitter) - Park Min-woo (second baseman) - Park Geon-woo (right fielder) - Jason Martin (center fielder) - Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder) - Seo Ho-cheol (third baseman) - Oh Young-soo (first baseman) - Kim Hyeong-jun (catcher) - Kim Joo-won (Shortstop) took the lead. The starting pitcher is Shin Min-hyuk.

Benjamin recorded 15 wins, 6 losses, and an average ERA of 3.54 in 29 games and 160 innings during this year's regular season. Before NC, he struggled relatively well with 1 win, 2 losses, and an average ERA of 5.65 in 14 1/3 innings in 3 games.

Before the game, KT coach Lee Kang-cheol said, "We have to trust Benjamin. He played well during the Blue and White match. There is no pain anywhere. He is a pitcher who throws his own balls as long as he is not hurt. Currently, Benjamin blocks well because the opponent's batting lineup is very good. “We need to give it to them. We need to be able to bring the atmosphere without being shaken in the beginning,” he said.

He then emphasized, "We need to lead the team to starting baseball. Currently, there is no bullpen pitcher better than Benjamin. There is no pitcher who can handle long innings," and added, "I believe Benjamin will give up the least number of runs."

Benjamin was shaken early in the game. In the top of the first inning, he caught leadoff hitter Son Ah-seop with a grounder to second base and then got a heavy hit from Park Min-woo. He threw a 139 km/h cutter as the first pitch to Park Geon-woo in the follow-up. The batted ball flew far behind left fielder. It became the first two-run home run with a distance of 130m. Benjamin allowed two runs, making the score 0-2. Benjamin ended the top of the first inning by hitting Martin with a fly ball to left field and Hee-Dong Kwon with a fly ball to right field.

In the top of the second inning, Seo Ho-cheol struck out after 5 pitches. Oh Young-soo hit a ground ball to second base, and Kim Hyeong-jun hit a fly ball to right field. He showed off a three-way inning.

We gave up an additional run in the top of the third inning. He threw a fastball on the 7th pitch to lead hitter Kim Joo-won, allowing a triple to right-center. Son A-seop's follow-up batted ball was directed toward first baseman Park Byeong-ho. Due to Park Byeong-ho's catching error, Kim Joo-won homered, and Son A-seop settled on first base. The score rose to 0-3. Benjamin defeated Park Min-woo with a fly ball to left field and then gave up a heavy hit to Park Geon-woo. With one out and first and second bases, Martin hit a fly ball to second base and Kwon Hee-dong hit a grounder to shortstop.

Stability was regained in the top of the 4th inning. He defeated Seo Ho-cheol with three strikeouts. Oh Young-soo hit a ground ball to second base, and Kim Hyeong-jun hit a ground ball to shortstop. It was the second three-way inning.

There was a dizzying scene in the top of the 5th inning. Leadoff hitter Kim Joo-won's batted ball flew quickly to Benjamin. Benjamin, who was hit in the upper thigh, dealt with the batted ball first. After putting Kim Joo-won out, we checked his body. The pitching continued quickly. He caught Son Ah-seop with a ground ball to shortstop. Park Min-woo hit a ground ball to third base, but Hwang Jae-gyun made a catching error. Park Geon-woo was treated with a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

The KT bench moved. In the top of the 6th inning, the pitcher was replaced by Son Dong-hyun. He is currently the player in the best condition among the winning team.

KT lost 5-9 in the first game held in Suwon on the 30th. In the historical best-of-five playoffs, the probability of the team winning the first game advancing to the Korean Series was 78.1%. It was 25 times out of a total of 32 (excluding the two major leagues from 1999 to 2000, 1995, 2008, and 2021). KT, which gave the odds in favor of NC, is desperate to win the second game. It was down 0-3 until the 5th inning.


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