When the NC Dinos punched their ticket to the Playoffs (PO) and the SSG Landers punched their ticket to the Semifinals (Semi-Po), it’s safe to say that the No. 4 spot was the difference in the series.
SSG used Guillermo Heredia in the No. 4 spot in Games 1 and 2 and then brought in Han Yoo-seom in Game 3, but the team only managed one hit from the No. 4 spot over the three games.
Martin, who batted fourth for NC throughout the series, collected one RBI in both Game 1 and Game 2 before swiping three in Game 3.
In particular, he hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second inning of the 7-6 victory in the third game of the Changwon semifinals to lead his NC teammates to Suwon, where KT Wiz was waiting for them.
After the game, Martin was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the third game and won a prize of 1 million won.
Martin, who won the home run title in Triple-A last year with 32 home runs, hasn’t been able to hit as hard in the KBO this season as expected.
He hit 17 home runs in the regular season, and only three over the fence in 35 games since September.
With his team down 4-5 in Game 3 of the semifinals, Martin hit a game-winning three-run home run over the right field fence off SSG Noh Kyung-eun with runners on first and second in the bottom of the inning.
After the game, Martin described the situation as “the ball came to me in the right pitch and location and I took a good swing, which led to a good result.”
“It’s a baseball season, it’s good and bad. I’m just glad I’ve had a good postseason,” he smiled.
In the postseason, NC has the league’s strongest contact hitters in Sohn, Park, Min-woo, and Park, and the power of Martin, the No. 4 hitter.
“I’ve been playing well as a No. 1 through No. 3 hitter all season,” Martin said. My teammates got me on base, and that’s why I got the runs.”
“It’s a big challenge to win the Korean Series. All of my teammates have the mindset that they will win. I believe I can do it too,” he said. 토토사이트
