Socrates Brito (32-KIA) had his worst spring of the year since coming to KIA. After hitting .270 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in April, he said he would “break out in May,” but he was hitting just .227 through 29 days in May. As May came to a close, Socrates had his best performance since joining the KBO on the 30th, when he hit a home run and occasionally stood up only to fall back down again.
On May 30, Kia won the NC Series 11-2 at NC Park in Changwon. With the victory, Kia improved to 34 wins (1-20) and posted a +14 win-loss margin for the first time since the start of the season.
Socrates had five hits for the first time since joining the KBO. KIA’s offense came alive in every inning. In particular, Socrates led off the top of the fourth inning with a hit.
After scoring two runs in the top of the third inning on Choi Won-joon’s RBI triple and Park Chan-ho’s sacrifice fly, KIA gave up a solo home run to Kim Hyung-joon in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 2-1 game. However, in the top of the fourth inning, Socrates came up big against NC starter Kim Si-hoon.
Socrates, who opened the day with a leadoff double in the top of the second inning, took a six-pitch fastball on a full count to center field. Kim’s fastball was no good. Kim then drew back-to-back walks to No. 6 Kim Sun-bin and No. 7 Seo Gun-chang to load the bases.
Against No. 8 Kim Tae-gun, NC switched to a changeup, but Kim took a six-pitch slider for a two-run double to left. With the score 4-1, KIA added another run when No. 9 Choi Won-joon’s infield single that fell by the second baseman allowed pinch runner Seo Gun-chang to score, and Park Chan-ho followed with a double to right-center to make it 6-1 and force Kim Si-hoon out of the game.
Right-hander Jeon Jae-min took the mound and KIA scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning, including a sacrifice fly by No. 2 Kim Do-young to 토토사이트 make it 7-1.
After NC scored one run on a solo home run by Park Gun-woo, KIA added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Na Sung-beom doubled to right field, followed by Socrates’ RBI single to right field and Kim Sun-bin’s RBI single to center field to make it 10-2.
Socrates fired his 11th home run of the season in the top of the ninth, a solo shot to right field, capping off a 5-for-5 day with two RBIs and two runs scored.
On the mound, starter Hwang Dong-ha earned his second win with his first quality start (six or more innings and three or fewer earned runs), allowing two runs on eight hits (two home runs) with six strikeouts in six innings. Starting in the seventh inning, Kim pitched the remaining three innings, allowing four hits and no runs 바카라사이트 추천 to earn the save.
“I’m doubly happy because I got five hits for the first time and won the team’s streak, and I feel like I’m hitting better than before, so I can play with more confidence after today,” Socrates said.
Kia manager Lee Bum-ho said, “All the batters in the lineup performed evenly, especially Socrates, who fulfilled the coach’s expectations with his five-hit performance. “Hwang Dong-ha made a great contribution with his first quality start since his debut. It’s encouraging to see him improve with each appearance. I also commend him for pitching five or more innings in five straight games, including today’s game. We’re happy to end our last midweek series in May on a high note.”