'Kim Do-young received a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the 9th inning, but...' LG's momentum is incredible! Swept all three games against KIA to 'hold sole first place' [Jamsil On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins swept the three-game series against KIA Tigers over the weekend, firmly securing their sole first-place position.

On the 31st, LG defeated KIA 5-3 in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

With this victory, LG, which had previously defeated KIA 12-2 on the 29th and won again 3-1, extended their winning streak to three games. They also became the protagonists of this weekend's three-game winning series. LG finished with 33 wins and 20 losses.

In contrast, KIA's upward momentum was halted after three consecutive losses following a six-game winning streak. KIA recorded 28 wins, 1 draw, and 25 losses.

For this game, LG set its starting lineup in the following order: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Koo Bon-hyeok (third baseman), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Tollhurst.

Facing LG, KIA arranged its starting lineup as follows: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Adellin (first baseman), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Oh Seon-woo (right fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Park Min (third baseman), and Kim Kyu-sung (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Yang Hyeon-jong.

LG took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, seizing control of the game's momentum. After consecutive hits by leadoff batter Hong Chang-ki and follow-up batter Park Hae-min, LG secured a bases-empty, one-out opportunity at first and second base. When Austin hit a fly ball to center field, Hong Chang-ki attempted a tag-up and successfully reached third base. Oh Ji-hwan then drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field.

KIA, held down by LG starter Tollhurst's strong pitching, finally scored in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Kim Kyu-sung reached base with a hit to right-center field and successfully stole second base. Park Jae-hyun then drove him home with a two-run single to center field, tying the game at 1-1.

In response, LG pulled ahead further by scoring two runs each in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Hong Chang-ki reached base with a hit to right field. Following that, with two outs, Austin launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall.

In the bottom of the sixth, Shin Min-jae hit a single to left field against reliever Jo Sang-woo with two outs. The pitcher was then replaced by Kwak Do-gyu. Shin Min-jae successfully stole second base and scored on Hong Chang-ki's two-run single to right-center field. With two outs and runners on second and third, Park Hae-min hit a two-run single to center field, extending the lead to 5-1.

KIA managed to score one run in the top of the seventh inning. LG removed Tollhurst and brought in Kim Jin-su. Leadoff batter Oh Seon-woo reached base with a hit to right-center field. With two outs, Kim Kyu-sung hit a two-run double to right-center field, bringing Oh Seon-woo home. The score became 5-2.

LG brought in closer Son Ju-young in the bottom of the ninth inning, marking his second consecutive appearance following the previous day (30th). After one out, Son allowed consecutive hits to Na Seong-beom and Kim Kyu-sung, and then issued a walk to Kim Sun-bin with two outs, creating a bases-loaded crisis. He then hit Kim Do-young with a pitch, allowing Na Seong-beom, who was on third base, to score. However, no further danger arose. Son retired Adellin with a groundout to the shortstop, closing out the game with a victory.

LG starter Tollhurst pitched six innings, allowing five hits, no walks, striking out five batters, and giving up one earned run, securing his seventh win of the season. He threw a total of 90 pitches. This move placed Tollhurst in sole first place for wins. Kim Jin-su (⅔ inning, two hits allowed, one strikeout, one earned run), Ham Deok-ju (⅓ inning, no hits allowed, one strikeout, scoreless), Woo Kang-hoon (one inning, one hit allowed, one walk, one strikeout, scoreless), and Son Ju-young (one inning, two hits allowed, one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one earned run) followed in order to preserve the team's victory. In the lineup that produced a total of 12 hits, Hong Chang-ki went 4-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Park Hae-min went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, both performing exceptionally well.

In contrast, KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong recorded 4⅔ innings, allowing five hits, four walks, one strikeout, and three earned runs, taking the loss for his fourth defeat of the season (with three wins). He threw a total of 94 pitches. Han Jae-seung (⅓ inning, no hits allowed, scoreless), Jo Sang-woo (⅔ inning, one hit allowed, one strikeout, one earned run), Kwak Do-gyu (⅓ inning, two hits allowed, one earned run), Choi Jimin (⅓ inning, two hits allowed, scoreless), Jung Hae-young (⅔ inning, no hits allowed, one strikeout, scoreless), and Kim Beom-su (one inning, one hit allowed, two walks, one strikeout, scoreless) followed in order. In the lineup that managed a total of 10 hits, Kim Kyu-sung recorded four hits and Park Jae-hyun recorded two hits.

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

*This content was translated by AI.