*This content was translated by AI.
This is why LG Twins fans have no choice but to like it. Koo Bon-hyuk (29), the main backup utility, was charmed not only by Kim Do-young (23, KIA Tigers) but also by LG fans with his head-first sliding, doing his best with a clever surprise bunt.
LG defeated KIA 7-2 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season home game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 1st. As a result, LG, which brought the series back to square one, broke its opening three consecutive losses and won its first victory in the 2026 season. It is also a pleasant victory that broke the six-game losing streak from the last three home games against the Samsung Lions on September 20 last year.
Starting pitcher Song Seung-ki played his part in four ⅓ innings (82 pitches), four hits (one homer), one walk, four strikeouts, and one run. The lineup relieved Song Seung-ki's burden by scoring three runs from the first inning. After that, he scored one point in the sixth inning and three points in the eighth inning, leading to a pleasant first win.
On this day, the game could have been twisted from the beginning. For LG, which has already lost its opening three consecutive games, the early atmosphere was more important than anything else, and its concentration was different from the first inning. From the top of the first inning, Song Seung-ki was hit by a leadoff hitter Kim Ho-ryeong's double on the right-field line and Harold Castro's ground ball made it to third base with one out. However, he managed to overcome the crisis of losing points by turning Kim Do-young to a ground ball to shortstop and striking out Na Sung-beom.
He also showed outstanding concentration in the lineup. In the bottom of the first inning, Shin Min-jae and Austin Dean scored the first run with consecutive hits, Park Dong-won walked, and Moon Sung-joo walked. Despite Oh Ji-hwan's ground ball, he stopped the double play with a sprint and scored an additional point.
Koo Bon-hyuk, who started as the third baseman instead of Moon Bo-kyung, showed off his crazy presence with a surprise bunt. Kim Do-young, who was attached to the third base from the first pitch, couldn't catch the ball at once. There was a scene of Koo Bon-hyuk sliding headfirst to first base, so Kim Do-young had no choice but to hurry.
Koo Bon-hyuk, who met with reporters after the game, said, "I haven't had a good batting feeling recently. "I tried bunt because the pitcher's ball was seen quickly and Kim Do-young's defensive position was a little behind him," he explained.
"At first, I was going to go to the strong field, but I changed my mind after looking at the defensive position. I also played third base, so I thought it would not be easy to deal with a ground ball at that distance," he added.
First base head first sliding is taboo by many clubs, including LG, due to injury and efficiency issues. However, Koo Bon-hyuk said, "I didn't know (Kim Do-young) wouldn't have caught the ball. "I thought the ball was a little strong during the bunt, so I expected a close game," he said. "It wasn't a situation where I was afraid of getting in trouble. I thought it would be a big deal if I lost four games in a row in the opening game," he said.
I'm not joking, if LG lost on this day, the team would have been burdened. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the team that won the opening four consecutive games and topped the regular season has never appeared since the beginning of the league in 1982. Only two teams, KIA in 2009 and Samsung Lions in 2012, started the season with three consecutive losses and ranked first.
Koo Bon-hyuk was surprised by this fact and said, "Yesterday (Park) Hae-min said in a group chat room of the team, 'I can win even if I lose three consecutive games.' Even if I was behind, I thought I could keep up enough, so I was able to become one," he said with strength.
"In fact, I was very upset because the team's performance was not good since the opening. Baseball is not easy. Still, I think I'm learning how to win again. I think it's more important in the future and I'll work hard to make a third case (first in the regular season after three consecutive losses)."
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*This content was translated by AI.
