Struggling Lee hits 2nd homer of season in NPB

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Sports

Hangzhou Asian Games

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 06:57

Struggling Lee hits 2nd homer of season in NPB

Posted : 2011-06-20 16:34

Updated : 2011-06-20 16:34

Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop of the Orix Buffaloes had four hits including his second home run of the season in a 4-0 win, Saturday.

Lee Seung-yeop of the Orix Buffaloes hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Chunich Dragons at the Nagoya Dome, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Yoon Chul

Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop of the Orix Buffaloes had four hits including his second home run of the season in a 4-0 win, Saturday.

In a road game at Nagoya Dome Lee sent the ball over the right fence for a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning against the Chunich Dragons.

“I tried to keep my concentration every time at bat and it resulted in a homer,” Lee said.

It was the batter’s first dinger in 66 days and he had four hits in a game for the first time in three years and nine months. The 34-year-old improved his batting average from .159 to .189.

With one out, Maximo Nelson’s fastball formed in the middle of the strike zone and Korean veteran didn’t miss.

The team took a 3-0 lead in the eighth when Lee hit an RBI double with runners on first and third.

As Lee, had already hit a homer against Nelson in a previous fixture, Buffalos manager Akinobu Okada named the Korean as a starter for the first time in three games and it worked.

“I did well in just one game. I am not satisfied,” Lee said.

Meanwhile, Yakult Swallows closer Lim Chang-yong added another save in the team’s 3-0 victory against the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Lim went to the mound in the ninth with one out and collected two outs in seven pitches.

The 35-year-old right hander shares top spot in the standings with Shun Yamaguchi of Yokohama Bay Stars, each with 14 saves.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr