The LG Twins snapped a two-game losing streak behind a 12-hit performance from their bats and a strong outing from starter Im Chan-kyu.
LG won 7-4 in the 12th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Saturday to improve to 57-2 and 35-1. The gap between leaders LG and second-place SSG widened to 4.5 games as SSG Landers suffered a 0-1 loss to the Lotte Giants on the same day. Meanwhile, Samsung, whose winning streak came to a halt at ‘2’, improved its record to 39W1D55L.
LG’s lineup is Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Moon Sung-joo (left fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (designated hitter), Austin Dean (first baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Park Hae-min (center fielder), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher is Im Chan-kyu.
Samsung’s lineup is Kim Hyun-joon (center field), Kim Sung-yoon (left field), Koo Ja-uk (right field), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Ryu Ji-hyuk (first base), Kang Han-ul (third base), Oh Jae-il (designated hitter), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), and Kim Dong-jin (second base). Albert Suarez was the starting pitcher.
It wasn’t long after the game started that a big change occurred. After Suarez pitched the first two batters of the first inning, he felt unwell and had to leave the game due to a sore left calf. With no other pitchers available, Samsung quickly called up right-hander Lee Seung-hyun.
LG wasted no time in capitalizing on the void and took the lead. In the top of the second inning, Moon Bo-kyung led off with a triple and came home on Park Dong-won’s grounder to shortstop to give the team the lead.
Samsung answered right back. Lee Jae-hyun, batting in the second inning, pulled an eight-pitch changeup from Im Chan-kyu on a full count and blasted the tying run over the left field fence. The score was 1-1.
Samsung capitalized on the momentum and capitalized on a golden opportunity. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff hitter Kim Hyun-jun drew a walk and Kim Sung-yoon and Koo Ja-uk followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases, but Kang Min-ho was retired on a line drive to second base, and Kim Tae-hoon and Kang Kang-ul struck out next to each other to end the inning scoreless.
After surviving the crisis, LG took the lead again. Singles by Shin Min-jae and Hong Chang-ki put runners at first and third with no outs, and Moon Sung-joo’s grounder to the first baseman tagged Shin Min-jae out at home. Kim Hyun-soo’s infield fly seemed to end the inning in vain, but after Austin’s walk, Oh Ji-hwan hit a two-run double with the bases loaded to give LG a 3-1 lead.
Not content with a two-run lead, LG pushed for more. In the top of the sixth inning, Hong Chang-ki singled with two outs to widen the gap, and after Moon Sung-joo singled, Kim Hyun-soo singled with two outs to make the score 5-1.
It was Moon who sealed the victory. In the top of the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and Kim Tae-hoon on third, he took advantage of a first-pitch pitch and hit a two-run arch over the right field fence. The gap between the two teams widened to six runs, and LG took a step closer to victory. Still holding out hope, Samsung scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on a single by Lee Jae-hyun and a sacrifice fly by Lee Sung-gyu. In the bottom of the ninth, Kim Ho-jae’s RBI single made it a three-run game, but they couldn’t get any closer.토토사이트
Starting pitcher Lim Chan-kyu earned his eighth win of the season with five innings, five hits (one home run), three walks, seven strikeouts and one run. At the plate, the Tablesetters combined for five hits and three RBIs with leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki going 3-for-5 with a home run and second baseman Moon Sung-ju going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. The center field lineup of Kim Hyun-soo, Austin, and Ji-hwan also contributed to the victory with a combined 10-for-4 with three RBIs.