“I didn’t look good yesterday (the 11th), and I didn’t help much…”
Austin started at first base, batting fourth, against the Kiwoom Heroes in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium on April 12.
Austin was ejected from the game against Kiwoom in Jamsil on the 11th, a day earlier, and was unable to help the team. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the count 1-2, he saw Jang Jae-young’s four-pitch four-seam fastball and struck out looking.
Austin immediately got into a heated argument with umpire Song Soo-geun because he thought Jang’s pitch was out of play. He threw both his helmet and bat in frustration, and was ordered to leave the game and could no longer play. Despite the loss of Austin, LG was able to salvage a close 5-3 victory to clean up the mess.
Austin came into the game on the 12th with a lot of motivation, and as if he hadn’t had enough of the previous game, he hit a huge home run to lead the team to victory.
Austin showed his power in his third at-bat. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and his team leading 3-2, he took a changeup from Ian McKinney for a two-run home run (his 14th of the season) that traveled 130.6 meters. The ball traveled at 174.3 kilometers per hour with a 23-degree launch angle and lodged in the top of the left-field bleachers. She finished 1-for-1 with a home run, two RBI, two walks and two runs scored in the 8-4 win.
After the game, Austin said, “I didn’t have a good outing yesterday (Nov. 11), and I didn’t have a lot of help. I’m happy that I was able to come out and help today,” Austin said with a smile.
Austin had been batting just .194 (7-for-36) in his last 10 games prior to this one, struggling to produce his trademark long ball, but he was able to turn things around with a big home run.
“I’ve been a backup for the last three years in the U.S., so it’s been a while since I’ve played full-time. It’s hard, but I can’t make excuses. My main goal is to get through the season without any excuses,” Austin said.
“The feeling after the home run was definitely different. It could be the difference between playing well here or not, but I was able to come out today and contribute a lot and help my teammates, and I think it’s a stepping stone for us to keep moving forward and not dwell on the past.”토토사이트
With the win, LG extended its winning streak to four games and improved its overall record to 60W2D35L. With 47 games remaining until the end of the season, expectations for the league title are high.
“My teammates are doing a great job, and I’m currently playing an important position on the team as a foreign hitter and first baseman. “My main goal is to continue to perform well to live up to their expectations,” Austin emphasized.