KIA Tigers left-handed hard-throwing pitcher Lee Yi-ri took the mound for the first time in 12 days, but struggled with his pitches, leading to an early exit.
Lee started the game against the visiting Hanwha Eagles of the 2023 KBO at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on Nov. 21, but was pulled after giving up five runs (four earned) on two hits and three wild pitches in 1⅓ innings.
Lee, who was also selected to represent the Hangzhou Asian Games, made his return after being dropped from the first team roster due to a blister on his finger after the LG Electronics game on Sept. 9.
The first inning was a crisp start.
Lee retired Hanwha’s top three batters – Lee Jin-young, Choi In-ho, and Noh Si-hwan – on swinging strikes as KIA scored the first two runs.
Kim Kyu-sung hit a solo home run in the top of the second to give KIA a 3-0 lead.
However, in the bottom of the second inning, Lee suddenly started to falter.
After giving up a walk to Nick Williams and a hit by pitch to Chae Eun-sung, Lee was hit by an infield single from Kim Tae-yeon to load the bases.
After giving up a double to Jung Eun-won, who came in to pinch-hit, Lee induced Lee Do-yoon to ground into an infield single with runners on first and second, but the KIA infielders made a bad play on the play to tie the game at 3-3.
Unable to settle down, Lee walked the next batter, Choi Jae-hoon, and was eventually replaced by Yoon Jung-hyun.
KIA then scored two runs on a catcher’s fastball and a single to Hanwha’s Choi In-ho, increasing Lee’s liability to five runs.
Lee, who didn’t even finish the second inning but threw 45 pitches, had a top velocity of 147 kilometers per hour.
Ryu Joong-il, the head coach of the Asian Games team, who traveled to Daejeon and watched Lee’s pitching closely, is expected to be in deep trouble. 파워볼