‘How is it such a coincidence’ that son Dole is selected by fate… He postpones his birthday celebration and heads to Changwon to save KT from the brink.

KT Wiz homegrown ace Ko Young-pyo (32) is the starting pitcher for Game 3 of the fateful playoffs. Coincidentally, today is the birthday of Ko’s first son, who was born on Nov. 2 last year.

He will throw as hard as he can for his team and his family, who are on the brink.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol announced Ko Young-pyo as the starting pitcher for Game 3 of the best-of-five playoff series against the NC Dinos in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO postseason at Changwon NC Park on April 2.

KT, which qualified for the playoffs by finishing second in the regular season, 바카라사이트 suffered an unexpected upset at the hands of the fourth-ranked NC in Games 1 and 2 at home on March 30-31.

On the first day, a 7-run outing by ace William Cuevas in three innings, coupled with a flurry of fielding errors, led to a 5-9 loss, and the next day, the team rallied from an 0-3 deficit in the eighth inning, but fell short by one run. No outs in the bottom of the ninth proved fatal.

KT was on the brink of a one-run loss that would end their fall baseball campaign in vain. Games 3 and 4 will be held at Changwon NC Park, home of NC, and they will have to play away with homegrown resources, having exhausted the Cuevas-Wes Benjamin one-two punch at home.

Of course, a win in Game 3 could set up Cuevas’ appearance in Game 4, but Lee Kang-cheol was cautious, saying, “We’ll win Game 3 first and then think about it.”

KT’s card in hand is their homegrown ace,

Ko Young-pyo. Ko’s record this year is 12-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 28 games, but in his most recent start against the Suwon KIA on March 3, he was hit in the right arm by a Kim Tae-gun hard hit bat and had to spend some time rehabbing.

Fortunately, a long break helped him recover, and he’s ready for the playoffs through team training and his own blue-and-white games. Ko finished the year tied for second in quality starts with 21 (tied for first), tied for sixth in ERA (tied for second), and tied for fifth in wins (tied for second).

Against the NC this year, he pitched well, going 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in four games.

He took the loss in his first start on April 12 in Changwon, giving up five runs in 5⅔ innings, but rebounded with a 6⅔ inning no-hitter on July 2 in Suwon, a seven-inning, three-run performance on August 12 in Suwon, and a six-inning, two-run performance on September 13 in Changwon.

Only the August 12 game ended in a no-decision.

However, Ko hasn’t been able to carry over his regular season success into the fall.

In last year’s semifinals against Kiwoom, he took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) in 2 1/3 innings, and in the 2021 Korean Series against Doosan, he was switched from the starting rotation to the bullpen and finished with a 3.86 ERA in three games and two holds.

Coincidentally, today is the birthday of Ko’s first son,

Cha Min-kun, who was born on November 2 last year. On his first birthday, he was given the important task of starting the fateful Game 3.

“I didn’t think about it, but it’s strange that it happened. My son may not know that his dad is a baseball player, but I will play as if he does. I’ve postponed the birthday party for now.”

“Korean baseball doesn’t seem to enjoy big games like international tournaments and postseasons. It’s important to do well, but it’s also important to make the atmosphere your own and enjoy it. I will do everything I can to enjoy the game,” he said.