Hwang Sung-bin Angered Kelly, who led the way out of eight consecutive losses

I respect everyone's willingness to work hard to snap an eight-game losing streak at a game where he started for the first time in a long time. However, I also need to show respect to the opponent team in the ground. This leaves some regrets. This is the story of Hwang Seong-bin from the Lotte Giants.

The "2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" game between the Lotte Giants and the LG Twins took place at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 18th. About two weeks after the match against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on the 4th, Lotte Hwang Seong-bin got the opportunity to start. He did not want to miss the opportunity he had not seized in a long time. He showed off his passion from the first inning without hesitation. He had a hit, a stolen base, and even scored a run by catching the opponent's defense off guard. 

However, excessive passion relieves anger. Hwang took the lead in escaping Lotte's eight-game losing streak by making two hits, two runs and one stolen base from five times at bat on the day, but failed to erase his image as a hateful person. 

Notably, players from both teams rushed to the ground, provoking LG starter Casey Kelly at the top of the third inning. The first bench clearing of this season took place. LG Kelly, a foreign pitcher who has entered the sixth year of the Korean pro baseball, has already gained reputation for his personality. He has been nicknamed "Diligent Foreign Player" and has set an example in performance and personality. However, he became furious, and players from both teams rushed to the ground for bench clearing. 

Why is Kelly so angry? One can speculate to some extent based on Hwang's behavior before the bench-clearing. In the top of the first inning, Hwang hit a hit to get on base, and performed his ceremony larger than usual. It is an act that he could have done to defraud the team that is currently losing eight games in a row. However, he committed four pitch clock violations while watching nine pitches before he hit a hit. There is no disadvantage because the team operates a trial run of the pitch clock rules in this season, and only provides a summary warning without oral warning. However, it is not good manners to cut off the flow of opposing pitchers by repeated violations.

Nevertheless, another act of provoking the opponent came out in the second at-bat in the third inning. With two strikes, Kelly's cutter fell under his feet. It was a ball. At this time, Hwang Sung-bin bent his knee and fell back, and often walked forward with his steps. It was an act that could have been seen as mocking the opponent. There was no need to do something so misleading.

And Hwang Sung-bin, who sprinted to the first base with a foul ball to the third base, returned to the batter's box too long. Boos poured in from the stand at the first base, and Kelly put his hand on his waist, expressing discontent. If he had returned late because he was out of breath, he might have made an apology after entering the batter's box.

However, this was not the end. Hwang, who got on base with a right-handed hit after committing two pitch clock violations, took second base when he made a mistake to check the first base. Then, he showed his tongue out in celebration. Due to Hwang's continued actions, which could have been misleading, Kelly became angry at him loudly after the top of the third inning, and Hwang also confronted him. Then, players from both teams rushed to the ground and bench-cleared.

Veteran LG catcher Heo Do-hwan couldn't hold back his anger as if it was his job, and the mood was so severe that several players tried to stop him from doing so. Fortunately, the two teams' captains cleared up the misunderstanding and the bench-clearing ended without any physical conflict.

I understand Hwang's desperate need to quit eight consecutive games, as he has had the opportunity to start the game for the first time in a long time. And a pro has to say it based on the result. It can stimulate the opponent or use the game psychologically. However, he should not overdo anything.

However, Lotte Giants' Hwang Sung-bin's performance helped keep the current tight schedule and shook Kelly. Then, Lotte broke its will to pursue the LG Twins and escaped its long eight-game losing streak.

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