'Losing, Losing, Finally Winning': LG Twins, with starting pitcher, lineup, and closer all fulfilling their roles, reclaim sole second place [Incheon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

The LG Twins completed a winning series with a perfect harmony of offense and defense, surpassing the Samsung Lions, who are competing for the top spot, to reclaim sole second place.

LG defeated SSG Landers 6-4 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 17th.

After leaving a lingering regret with a losing series for two consecutive games, LG secured a winning series with two wins and one loss against SSG, recording 25 wins and 17 losses. This move allowed them to surpass the Samsung Lions (24 wins, 17 losses, 1 tie), who lost that day, and move up to second place. They maintained a 0.5-game gap behind the sole first-place KT Wiz (25 wins, 16 losses, 1 tie).

LG established a pleasant lead from the early stages of the game. Following a walk by Park Dong-won in the bottom of the second inning, Moon Jeong-bin capped the season's first home run with a two-run shot. In the fifth inning, after consecutive hits by Shin Min-jae and Hong Chang-gi, Austin exploded with a three-run home run, foreshadowing victory.

Lim Chan-kyu, who has displayed killer instincts in 13 games against SSG over the past four seasons with a 9-2 record and an ERA of 2.28, allowed solo home runs to Kim Jae-hwan in the bottom of the second inning and Oh Tae-gon in the bottom of the fifth. However, he threw 104 pitches over six innings, allowing six hits, one walk, and three strikeouts while surrendering only three earned runs, achieving a quality start (six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs).

After Lim Chan-kyu was relieved, Kim Jin-su and Kim Young-woo each held the line for one inning starting from the seventh. In the eighth inning, they gave up a home run to Heredia, but with a 6-4 lead, closer Son Ju-young entered in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the lead, securing his third save of the season.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said after the game, "Since we suffered a comeback loss at the end of yesterday's game, an early lead was crucial. Moon Jeong-bin's two-run home run allowed us to start the momentum in our favor." He added, "In a situation where additional runs were needed, Austin hit back-to-back home runs, driving in four runs and leading the entire lineup, earning a significant share of the victory. I also want to praise the team for their outstanding defensive play in the sixth inning, which was a key factor in their success on both offense and defense."

The lineup showed strength from the start, and the pitching staff never relinquished the lead, ultimately securing the victory.

Manager Yeom praised the pitchers, stating, "Lim Chan-kyu has been pitching well in recent games, so we had high expectations for him today, and he fulfilled his role as a starter perfectly. Kim Jin-su and Kim Young-woo performed their roles as the winning pitchers, and Son Ju-young closed out the game well, allowing us to win."

He also expressed gratitude to the fans who filled the away stands, contributing to SSG's ninth sellout crowd of the season. Manager Yeom said, "Even though it was an away game, many fans came to support us, and thanks to their encouragement, we were able to get through the week with a .500 record."

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*This content was translated by AI.