# Lotte's Hwang Sung-bin provoked the controversial line

Lotte beat the LG Twins 9-2 in an away game of the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 18th to escape its eighth consecutive loss.


Hwang was one of the key players in the victory. He got the opportunity to start the game in two weeks after the match against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on Thursday, and enjoyed two hits, two runs and one stolen base from five times at bat. In the top of the first and seventh innings when Lotte scored a point, Hwang became a very important figure.

He got on base with a hit in the top of the first inning, stole second base, and boldly dug into home when Victor Reyes had an infield hit.

In the top of the seventh inning, he hit an infield grounder at the second base with no outs, but shortstop Oh Ji-hwan made a catch error while being conscious of Hwang Sung-bin. Hwang Sung-bin then touched the second base before second baseman Shin Min-jae when Reyes grounded out to second base, creating a chance to load the bases with no outs. The flow of the game completely changed, and Lotte scored a large number of six points to take the victory.

LG was so conscious of Hwang that its defense collapsed and suffered a crushing defeat. Casey Kelly, the second starter, also lost his composure in a war of nerves with Hwang.

Hwang's highly motivated play was the catalyst for Lotte's escape from its eighth consecutive loss, but caused inconvenience to the opposing team. He went too far.

In dealing with Kelly, Hwang Sung-bin violated the rule six times that requires him to complete preparation for hitting before the pitch clock is marked with eight seconds. The KBO League is not disadvantageous because it piloted the pitch clock rule this season and only gives a summary warning without oral warning in case of violation, but it did not look good.

In the top of the third, he provoked Kelly twice.

With two strikes in hand, Kelly's three-pitch cutter flew close to Hwang's feet and became a ball, which moved forward with a slight bend in his knees. It was an act that did not require any additional action.

Hwang Sung-bin, who then hit a ball toward third base and sprinted to first base, walked slowly to the batter's box when a foul was declared.

Kelly, who was frustrated, was eventually outraged after the end of the third inning and threw a few words at Hwang Sung-bin. As a result, the teams of both teams rushed to the ground and even the first bench clearance of the season occurred.

After the game, Hwang Sung-bin said, "I don't think there's one person who thinks 'I'm not working hard' when looking at me. The image may be uncomfortable for the opposing team, but considering that, I don't care because I can't do what I prepared."

It is not the first time that Hwang has been at the center of controversy. In the match against the KIA Tigers on June 26, he got on base with a hit in the top of the fifth inning, and made provocative actions by looking at the opponent team's starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong at the first base while attempting to steal second base several times.

Fans of the nine other teams except Lotte couldn't hide their discomfort and criticized Hwang as "ungentlemanly behavior." Shaking the opponent team's mental health is an important part of a baseball game, but they insist on at least keeping the line.

However, Hwang said he would maintain his style of play despite such criticism. "I'm going to use it to help my opponent team pay more attention to me," he said. "My seniors are also rooting for me, saying that it's better to play baseball that you want to play."

BY: **[토토](https://www.sportstotolink.com)**