It wasn’t easy to get out of a five-game losing streak to Kiwoom Heroes. They were unable to capitalize on their chances, but they kept pounding away and eventually pulled off the upset. Now that they’re out of the losing streak, first place is within reach.
The LG Twins came from behind to beat last-place Kiwoom and snap a five-game losing streak against the team.
LG came from behind to win 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning against Kiwoom at home in Jamsil on Friday, thanks to Moon Sung-joo’s two-run double. LG, which had lost five straight games after winning only one game against Kiwoom this season, finally broke the losing streak with a win. Their record is now 2-5. With 35 wins and 25 losses, LG moved within half a game of the first-place KIA Tigers (35 wins and 24 losses), who lost to the Lotte Giants.
LG’s starting lineup was Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Moon Sung-joo (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Austin (first baseman), Park Dong-won (designated hitter), Goo Bon-hyeok (shortstop), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), and Heo Do-hwan (catcher). Kim Hyun-soo was removed from the lineup to rest and Moon Bok-kyung was inserted in the No. 3 spot. Choi Won-tae started in center field, with Heo Do-hwan at catcher and Park Dong-won as the designated hitter.
Things never seem to go right for Kiwoom, and this was no different. Hong Chang-ki reached on an error by the second baseman in the first inning, Park Dong-won singled to left to lead off the second inning, but no one followed, and in the third inning, Hong Chang-ki and Moon Sung-joo drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second, but Moon Bo-kyung grounded out to shortstop.
Choi Won-tae had runners on second and third in the top of the first, second and third in the top of the second, and second and second in the top of the third, but he was able to hold on.
However, they gave up the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Song Sung-moon was hit by a low 143-kilometer fastball on the second pitch to lead off the inning. He then allowed Kim Hye-sung to steal second and Choi Joo-hwan to hit a single to right-center to score another run, making it 0-2.
LG answered right back. A leadoff bunt single by Shin Min-jae and a double by Hong Chang-ki put runners on first and third with one out before Moon Sung-joo singled to center. With runners on first and second, Moon struck out and Austin grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
Choi Won-tae took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, Koo Bon-hyuk and Park Hae-min singled to put runners on first and second, but Shin Min-jae and pinch-hitter Kim Bum-seok grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Gears tied the game. After a walk to Moon Sung-joo and a double to left by Moon Bo-kyung put runners on second and third, Austin hit a ground ball in front of the first baseman from reliever Cho Sang-woo, who threw to 카지노사이트 first baseman Choi Joo-hwan, who narrowly made a safe throw to first. With the score tied at 2-2, LG had runners on second and third with one out. Kiwoom walked Park Dong-won on a high four-pitch pitch. Koo Bon-hyuk hit a single in front of the shortstop. With the score tied, Ha Young-min and Choi Won-tae were left stranded.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, LG had another chance. Shin Min-jae stole second base after walking against Oh Seok-joo. This steal changed the game. It appeared to be an out due to the timing, but Shin spun around and stuck out his left arm to avoid the tag by second baseman Kim Hye-sung for the save. He then stole third to put runners on first and third. Pinch-hitter Kim Min-soo drew a walk on a full count, and Hong Chang-ki drew an automatic walk on a 3B1S to load the bases.
Moon Sung-ju came through with the big hit. He hit a line drive that was so well hit that it went to third base and shortstop Lee Jae-sang made a diving catch, but it sailed right by him. Shin Min-jae singled to center, and Kim Min-soo raced home from third after a line drive to shortstop that was caught by the shortstop, who cut off the runner at second and started back to third. Shortstop Lee Jae-sang, who received the throw from center fielder Lee Yong-kyu, was looking at third base first and was too late to see Min-soo running home. He threw home late, but it was safe. It was 4-2.
After Choi Won-tae, LG held Kiwoom scoreless in the sixth, Kim Jin-sung in the seventh, and Kim Dae-hyun in the eighth, but reliever Yoo Young-chan came on in the top of the ninth and held them scoreless to preserve the win. Kim Dae-hyun picked up his second win of the season, while Yoo earned his 13th save of the season. Moon Sung-ju was 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and two walks in the win.
“Choi Won-tae did his job as a starter, and the next four innings our winning group took charge of their own innings to set the stage for the comeback,” said LG manager Yeom Kyung-yup, who also praised the pitching staff, saying, “Park Dong-won’s steal of Kim Hye-sung in the seventh inning set the tone for the comeback.”
“In the seventh inning, Moon’s aggressive base running on Austin’s grounder to first base to tie the game, and Shin’s steal of third base in the eighth inning, were two bold and aggressive base running plays that were crucial to the win, and Moon came through with the game-winning RBI double when we needed it most,” he said.
“It was a close game all the way through, but I want to praise the players for staying focused and not giving up until the end,” said Han. “We were able to come back and win today because so many fans came out to support us even though it was the middle of the week. I’m grateful to the fans,” he said.