'With' Park Hae-min, it's crazy! Career-first walk-off three-run home run... LG defeats Kiwoom 6-4, secures winning series [Jamsil On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins captain Park Hae-min (36) delivered his career-first walk-off three-run home run, bringing a winning series against the Kiwoom Heroes.

On the 24th, LG secured a thrilling comeback victory with a 6-4 score in a regular-season home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, LG improved to 28-19, overtaking KT Wiz (27-19), who also lost on the same day, to move into second place.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 9th inning when LG trailed 3-4. Kiwoom closer Yuto Kanakubo entered the game with his team leading 4-3, striking out Song Chan-ui with a swing-and-miss, and inducing a groundout to first base from Gu Bon-hyeok to start smoothly. However, a pop fly hit by pinch-hitter Lee Jae-won was dropped by the second baseman, center fielder, and right fielder, allowing the runner to reach second base and giving LG its final chance.

Hong Chang-ki drew a walk after a full count to load the bases. Park Hae-min, facing a 1-ball-2-strike count, endured by fouling off three pitches before connecting with a Yuto Kanakubo inside fastball and sending it over the right-field wall to end the game.

Kiwoom starting pitcher Park Jun-hyun dominated the early game. On this day, Park threw a total of 96 pitches, including 47 fastballs clocked up to 158 km/h, 34 sliders, and 15 curveballs, striking out seven batters through five innings and limiting the LG lineup to just one hit. However, in the bottom of the 6th with two outs and a runner on first, his control wavered, allowing three consecutive hits. He finished with 5⅔ innings, four hits allowed, three walks, eight strikeouts, and three earned runs, failing to achieve a quality start (defined as six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs). Jo Young-geon (⅓ inning), Kim Seo-jun (1 inning), and Won Jong-hyun (1 inning) combined for scoreless relief, but Yuto Kanakubo surrendered a late walk-off, turning their effort into nothing. In the Kiwoom lineup, veteran batters including Lee Hyung-jong (2-for-4), Im Byung-wook, Choi Ju-hwan, and Kim Woong-bin contributed five hits and two RBIs.

LG starting pitcher Song Seung-gi also failed to deliver, allowing seven hits, one walk, four strikeouts, and four earned runs over 3⅓ innings. However, Oh Ji-hwan went 3-for-4 with one RBI, following up on his performance from the previous day, and Cheon Seong-ho went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Park Hae-min became the hero with his walk-off three-run home run.

On this day, LG lined up with Hong Chang-ki (right field), Park Hae-min (center field), Austin Dean (first base), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Cheon Seong-ho (first base), Lee Young-bin (third base), Song Chan-ui (left field), Lee Ju-heon (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second base). The starting pitcher was Song Seung-gi.

Kiwoom countered with Seo Geon-chang (second base), Ahn Chi-hong (designated hitter), Im Byung-wook (right field), Choi Ju-hwan (first base), Lee Hyung-jong (left field), Kim Woong-bin (third base), Park Soo-jong (center field), Park Sung-bin (catcher), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Park Jun-hyun.

A fierce pitching duel unfolded. Kiwoom's Park Jun-hyun dominated the early atmosphere. After retiring the side in order in the first inning, he allowed a hit to Oh Ji-hwan in the second but induced a double play from Cheon Seong-ho. He struck out Lee Young-bin with a low, swinging slider to end the inning.

Powerful pitching continued. In the bottom of the 3rd, Park Jun-hyun induced a swing-and-miss from Song Chan-ui with an outside slider, then struck out the batter looking with a variety of pitches on the edge of the strike zone. He retired Lee Ju-heon with a groundout to shortstop and walked Shin Min-jae. However, Park Jun-hyun continued his scoreless pitching by striking out Hong Chang-ki with a high slider.

Song Seung-gi also held firm against the potent Kiwoom lineup. He struck out two batters in the first inning to retire the side in order. In the top of the 2nd, he allowed a double down the left-field line to Lee Hyung-jong and walked Kim Woong-bin, but retired the next two batters with a flyout to left field and a swing-and-miss strikeout, preventing any runs. He also retired the side in order in the 3rd, including a swing-and-miss strikeout.

Kiwoom's central lineup broke the tight 0-0 balance. In the top of the 4th, leadoff hitter Im Byung-wook opened the scoring with a massive double down the center-field wall. Choi Ju-hwan followed by connecting with the second pitch from Song Seung-gi, a fastball, for a one-run double down the right-center gap to take the lead. Lee Hyung-jong continued the momentum with a foul home run followed by a single to left field. Kim Woong-bin added a one-run double down the left-field line to make it 2-0.

LG's luck did not hold. With one out and runners on first and third following a groundout by Park Soo-jong, Park Sung-bin's hit struck Austin's glove at first base and rolled into the right-field corner. Kwon Hyuk-bin's one-run double to left field extended the lead to 4-0. Ultimately, Kim Jin-su, who replaced Song Seung-gi, barely ended the inning by catching Seo Geon-chang and Ahn Chi-hong in flyouts to the outfield.

LG did not give up easily. Trailing 0-4 in the bottom of the 6th with one out, Hong Chang-ki reached base on a walk. Park Hae-min was retired on a strikeout looking, but Austin Dean followed with a hit to center field to revive the momentum. Oh Ji-hwan then hit a one-run double down the right-field line, and Cheon Seong-ho followed with a two-run double down the right-center gap. LG mounted a 3-4 comeback.

Park Dong-won failing to capitalize on two opportunities was a disappointment for LG. Park Dong-won stepped up against the reliever Jo Young-geon but swung and missed at a dropping forkball, striking out. The same scene repeated in the bottom of the 8th. With Austin Dean walking, Oh Ji-hwan hitting a hit to center field, and Cheon Seong-ho flying out to center field, LG had a scoring opportunity with two outs and runners on second and third. However, Park Dong-won's bat once again missed Won Jong-hyun's dropping slider, ending the inning.

However, in the bottom of the 9th with two outs, a pop fly hit by pinch-hitter Lee Jae-won was dropped by the second baseman, center fielder, and right fielder, shifting the momentum. Hong Chang-ki drew a walk to load the bases with runners on first and second, and Park Hae-min

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*This content was translated by AI.