The LG Twins completed a seven-game winning streak in the Korean Baseball Organization thanks to a dramatic game-ending infield single by Jeong Ju-hyun in extra innings. The victorious Kiwoom Heroes allowed the tying run to score in the ninth inning before succumbing with one out in the bottom of the frame.
LG pulled off a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Kiwoom at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday. LG, which had won its previous two games, swept a three-game midweek series to extend its winning streak to a season-high seven games. The gap to second-place SSG Landers widened to 5.5 games.
The pregame atmosphere was dominated by LG. With the strongest batting lineup in the league, the team boasted a solid lineup. Even LG manager Yoon Kyung-yeop, who is not easily satisfied, said, "It's starting baseball. Now we can continue our winning streak when we get the chance."
In particular, the result of the previous day's game seemed like a death blow to Kiwoom. They were unable to break the losing streak even with the league's top ace, Ahn Woo-jin. Their lack of scoring support was a problem. In the first two games of the three-game series, the Kiwoom bats combined to score just five runs.
It was Kiwoom who struck first. They opened the scoring with back-to-back infield singles off LG starter Casey Kelly with two outs in the first inning. Two batters later, Lee Ju-hyung, who donned a Kiwoom uniform in a trade late last month, hit his first career home run over the right field fence.
The rest of the game was a pitcher's duel. LG took advantage of an error in the bottom of the first inning to take a one-run lead, but Kiwoom added another run in the fourth. LG could only manage one run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Hong Chang-ki.
The drama began in the bottom of the ninth inning. Against Kiwoom's closer Lim Chang-min, leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung drew a walk. With the 토토사이트 bases loaded, Park Dong-won took a 2-1 pitch, a 143-kilometer-per-hour fastball on a four-pitch count. The pitch curved into a big parabola and went straight into the left-field stands.
It was Jeong Joo-hyun who put an end to the long battle. After replacing Choi Seung-min, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning, Jung put on the gloves in the 11th and stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third in the bottom of the 12th. After fouling off several pitches, he took a six-pitch pitch from Kiwoom Yang-hyun. The ball rolled slowly toward the second base line, and Jung sprinted to first base, where he made a head-first sliding catch at the last second. The umpire's call for the save was not overturned by the video review, which was made on a call for a raise.
"Park Dong-won's home run in the ninth inning in a difficult situation set the tone for the players to focus," said Yeom, "and Jung Joo-hyun's hustle play at the end helped us win the game."
