'7:3 → Bases-loaded home run → Bases-loaded walk for dramatic comeback': Park Hae-min secured the one-run lead, 'SSG swept in four straight': LG leaps to sole second place [Incheon on-site review]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins continued their strong momentum with a dramatic victory, sweeping SSG Landers in four games. New closer Son Ju-young secured the team's win with a flawless pitching performance.

On the 15th, LG defeated SSG Landers 8-7 in a visiting game at the SSG Landers Field in Incheon during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, winning on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 9th inning.

With a two-game winning streak, LG improved to 24 wins and 16 losses, moving up one spot to sole second place by overtaking Samsung Lions (23 wins, 16 losses, 1 tie), who lost that day, by a half-game margin. The gap with the top-ranked KT Wiz (24 wins, 15 losses, 1 tie) narrowed to 0.5 games.

Meanwhile, fourth-place SSG, with 21 wins, 18 losses, and 1 tie, was chased by fifth-place KIA Tigers, who won that day, by a 1.5-game margin.

LG lined up with Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), Hong Chang-ki (center fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Lee Jae-wo (right fielder), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). Starting pitcher was Yoni Chirinos.

SSG lined up with Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Jeong (third baseman), Guillermo Heredia (designated hitter), Kim Jae-hwan (left fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Kim Chang-pyeong (right fielder). Temporary substitute foreign pitcher Kojiro Hiramoto made the starting appearance.

A clash was expected between Hiramoto, who suffered a nightmare debut with six earned runs in three innings, and Chirinos, who is in a severe slump this season with one win, three losses, and an ERA of 7.32. However, the actual game unfolded in a completely different manner.

Hiramoto struggled but pitched significantly better than before. LG loaded the bases in the top of the 1st inning with a walk from Hong Chang-ki and a middle-field hit from Song Chan-ui but failed to score. Koo Bon-hyuk, Austin, and Oh Ji-hwan all struck out swinging against Hiramoto.

LG scored in the 2nd inning. With consecutive hits from Park Dong-won and Moon Jung-bin, they created a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs. Lee Jae-wo's two-run single and Shin Min-jae's RBI sacrifice fly gave them a 2-0 lead.

In the 3rd inning, Hiramoto's control wavered, allowing one hit and two walks to load the bases, but Lee Jae-wo struck out swinging against Hiramoto, preventing additional runs.

In the 4th inning, Shin Min-jae reached base on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Koo Bon-hyuk, scoring on Hong Chang-ki's single to left field. However, leaving seven runners on base through the 4th inning was regrettable.

Chirinos' strong pitching was welcome. He pitched a no-hitter through the 4th inning. After allowing his first hit to Jung Jun-jae and a walk in the 4th, he gave up his first run on Heredia's single to right field but retired the side in order in the 5th, securing the win.

Chirinos, who re-entered in the 6th, allowed a hit to Park Sung-han and induced a ground ball from Jung Jun-jae, which he fielded himself. However, the throw to second base was off, leading to a bases-loaded situation with no outs. He then allowed a hit to Choi Jeong, giving up another run. After handing the ball to Kim Jin-seong, he left the mound, but when Heredia hit a fly ball to left field, Jung Jun-jae scored from third, narrowing the margin to two runs.

The score gap was too unstable to guarantee a win. LG's lineup rallied again. In the top of the 8th with one out, Austin reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Following a walk from Song Chan-ui, opposing pitcher Jung Dong-yoon committed a wild pitch, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Oh Ji-hwan, who had gone hitless in three at-bats, hit a single to center field, and two runners scored, seemingly sealing the game.

However, SSG's late resilience was terrifying. Trailing 7-3, leadoff batter Jung Jun-jae reached base on a walk in the bottom of the 8th, and Heredia also drew a walk with one out. Kim Jae-hwan, who had been silent all day, hit a single against reliever Jang Hyun-sik, loading the bases.

Choi Ji-hoon, who has recently come alive, stepped up to the plate. With a 0-1 count, he smashed a 134 mph forkball on the second pitch, sending it over the center field fence for a 125-meter bases-loaded grand slam to tie the game. This was his sixth home run of the season and the 10th bases-loaded home run of the year, his second since October 17, 2021, against Lotte at Sajik Stadium. He hit a bases-loaded home run in a crucial moment after 1,671 days.

SSG, having saved their top relievers while trailing, brought in closer Jo Byeong-hyun in the 9th inning to tie the game, but the result was not as expected. Leadoff batter Lee Young-bin was retired on a fly ball to shortstop. Park Hae-min hit a single to center field, and Shin Min-jae hit a double down the left-field line, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Jo Byeong-hyun lost control, issuing consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Cheon Seong-ho and Hong Chang-ki. LG entered the bottom of the 9th with a one-run lead on a bases-loaded walk.

New closer Son Ju-young was brought in on the mound. Son Ju-young faced a crisis with Cheon Seong-ho's error and Park Sung-han's walk but retired Jung Jun-jae on a strikeout, Choi Jeong on a fly ball to right field, and Heredia on a ground ball to shortstop, securing his second win of the season.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.