Pittsburgh Pirates Bae Ji-hwan contributed to the team’s winning streak with stable defense.
Bae Ji-hwan started as the 8th batter and second baseman in the 2023 Major League Baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, USA on the 21st (Korean time). Bae Ji-hwan went 0-hit in 3 at-bats, but played decisive double-play defense to stop Cincinnati from pursuing. Pittsburgh won 4-3 and went on a four-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh faced a crisis in the top of the seventh inning, leading 4-0.
Cincinnati leadoff hitter Jake Fraley opened the door with a heavy hit. Tyler Stephenson picked a walk and piled on runners. It was 1st and 2nd base unscathed. If there was a timely hit here, Pittsburgh would be caught within Cincinnati’s range in an instant스포츠토토
Wil Myers’ batted ball rolled on an ambiguous course with a 3-way. It wasn’t a perfect hit, but the direction was good and it looked like it would slip into the outfield.
But third baseman Kabrian Hayes was quick to react. Hayes slipped and snatched the batted ball. he threw to second base.
Second baseman Bae Ji-hwan came into the second base cover. Bae Ji-hwan stepped on the base and received a throw from Hayes, forcing the runner on first base to force out. Bae Ji-hwan turned to first base smoothly, although it was a reverse movement. Because it was a tense situation, he succinctly threw to first base without stepping. Two outcounts went up at the same time.
Pittsburgh was chased by 4-1 and regained stability with 2 out and 3 base without conceding in a situation where the 1st and 2nd base crisis would continue.
Cincinnati made up for one point with Jason Vosler hitting a timely hit in the second out and second base. Cincinnati added 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning and pursued 3-4.
When this happened, the combination play of Heize and Bae Ji-hwan in the beginning of the 7th felt more valuable.
Bae Ji-hwan moved to the center fielder position in the beginning of the ninth inning and did his best until the end. After two shots, he took the final out count directly from the left-middle point and took a period.
Pittsburgh scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to seize the win. Connor Joe and Jack Swinsky hit back-to-back home runs in the second out and third base. Starting pitcher Wilson Contreras pitched well with one run in 6⅔innings. Bae Ji-hwan’s batting average for the season was lowered from 0.241 to 0.228.