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"Bans Didn't Win"...Failed to escape losing streak, Sutton's deep regret

Lotte Giants manager Larry Sutton looked back on the last game (against the Jamsil LG Twins on the 24th) ahead of the '2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League' kt Wiz match at Sajik Stadium on the 25th.

Lotte lost three consecutive weekend games against the Kiwoom Heroes from the 18th to the 20th, recording three consecutive losses. In the game on the 24th (cancellation of rain on the 22nd and 23rd), he put forward ace Barnes, who has a 1.21 ERA in 6 games and 37⅓ innings in the second half, but gave up the game 1-3, falling into a swamp of 4 consecutive losses. Ace will also play three consecutive weekends against KT without breaking the losing chain.

Coach Sutton said, "Barnes performed well enough to record a quality start (less than three earned runs in six innings), and both plates (strike zone) had good control." "I also took a good ball mix against the strong lineup of LG," he praised, but added, "It's a shame that Barnes didn't win." "The players didn't give up from the first to the ninth inning and fought well, but there were not many scoring situations on the batting side," he said, expressing deep regret.

There are many changes in the batting order. Lotte's veterans Jung Hoon and Jeon Joon-woo, who were waiting on the bench, and Bae Young-bin, who was active with three hits in four at-bats against Kiwoom on the 20th, were listed on the starting list.

Sutton said, "We organize the lineup according to the starting pitchers. There are some players who were not included in the starting list yesterday (24th), and since they struggled against Casey Kelly (LG) in the past, they set up a lineup focusing on players who are strengthened and athletic. "Today (25th), we formed a lineup of good players to face left-handed pitcher Benjamin," he explained.

"To explain in a big way, there are many left-handed batters in our team who can't play against left-handed pitchers." Depending on the opponent's selection, you will see less left-handed batters and more right-handed hitters entering, especially when you meet a left-handed pitcher. "I look at such a big framework and form a lineup," he added.

Meanwhile, Lotte will try to escape its losing streak against KT, the No. 1 winner (22 wins and 6 losses) in the second half. "I don't think the importance of the series is different against a particular team," Sutton said. With the start of the second half, every series and game are important, so this series should have at least a winning series. Rather than thinking about the distant future, I will focus on every game and move forward. "I will do my best to go up for the remaining 39 games," he said with a strong determination.

◆Lotte's starting lineup on the 25th

Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Ahn Chi-hong (2nd baseman), Niko Goodrum (3rd baseman), Jeon Joon-woo (left fielder), Jung-hoon (designated hitter), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Han Dong-hee (1st baseman), Bae Young-bin (shortstop) and Kim Min-seok (center fielder), starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson (212 ERA in 29⅔ innings)