Lee Seung-yeop Belts Two Run Out-of-the-Park Homer

Finally, “National Hitter” Lee Seung-yeop (28-year-old, Chiba Lotte Marines) hit a debut homer for Japan.

It was the last game among three home openers held at Chiba Marine Stadium on April 4 against the Daiei Hawks, coached by Sadaharu Oh, the former homerun king. The game began at 1pm and the clock indicated 2pm when Korean pro baseball opened.

Lee took his turn at the bat with first base and no out by the right hit of Fukuura in the bottom of the 4th inning, while Lotte was behind 1-2. Have popped up to the left fielder at his first at bat in the 2nd inning, Lee fouled the first pitch of starting pitcher Aragaki and hit a high centered 145km/h fastball, slamming a two points homer that flew like a bullet over the right-center wall.

Lee marked his first homer in eight games and 31 turns (27 at bats). Too fast for TV cameras to follow, the ball headed outside the park and crashed through the window of a car in the parking lot. It was said that the flying distance was over 130m.

Elated by Lee’s homerun, Lotte‘s batting line exploded with a back-to-back homer by Beni, while Lee led the 11-4 victory with two RBI doubles at bases loaded with one out during his second at bat in the same inning. Lee lined out to shortstop despite good batting in the 6th inning and a strike out in the 8th.

With two hits, four RBIs and one run in five at bats, Lee increased his batting average from 0.280, which dropped by no hits in three at bats the previous day to 0.300 (nine hits in at 30 bats). In total, he drove in seven RBIs and scored four.

Lee also made three winning RBIs and one winning run out of six wins (two losses) for Lotte and marked the slugging percentage over 50% with one homer and four doubles among nine hits.

Lotte won 5-2 the previous day and swept three games against the Japan Series champion of last year, Daiei, maintaining a sole lead. It is the first time that the team, always on the bottom, leads solely since April of 2001.

Meanwhile, Koo Dae-seong (35-year-old, Orix Bluewave) was sent down to the farm team after performing poorly with one loss and a 7.11 ERA for the last two games. Consequently, the confrontation with Lee was put off until next time.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com