Eagles manager keeps faith in reliever despite struggles

If it seems like Hanwha Eagles closer Kim Seo-hyeon gives up a home run every time he takes the mound, it's because he indeed has -- for his last three appearances, anyway. Still, his manager Kim Kyung-moon remains unwavering in his trust of the 21-year-old All-Star, singling him out as the key player if the Eagles were to win their first Korea Baseball Organization championship since 1999. Kim Seo-hyeon's latest meltdown came during the bottom sixth of Game 4 of the best-of-five postseason series against the Samsung Lions in the southeastern city of Daegu on Wednesday. The Eagles were up 4-1, trying to hold on for a win that would send them to their first Korean Series since 2006. But the Lions, after scoring a run earlier in that inning, were threatening, with two aboard for their slugger Kim Young-woong. Kim Seo-hyeon blew two fastballs by Kim Young-woong, who fanned on both. When the pitcher threw another fastball, the hitter did not miss it, launching it into the seats in right for a game-tying three-run home run. As pitching coach Yang Sang-moon trudged toward the mound for a pitchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times