'Seven consecutive wins as a starter' LG ace takes responsibility: "I tried to pitch as long as possible to help the bullpen" → Sincere apology to Son Ho-young for a hit-by-pitch

*This content was translated by AI.

Lim Chan-kyu (34), who has firmly held down the LG Twins' starting mound for the 2026 season, proved the true caliber of an ace with an overwhelming seven-game winning streak.

On the 14th, Lim Chan-kyu made a start in the final game of the weekend three-game series against the Lotte Giants at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, delivering a brilliant performance with seven innings, six hits, one hit-by-pitch, two strikeouts, and one earned run. Recording his first Quality Start Plus (QS+) of the season and his first seven-inning outing, Lim secured his seventh win of the season, continuing his streak of seven consecutive wins as a starter. Since the game against Samsung on April 18, he has not once been the losing pitcher.

In fact, Lim Chan-kyu's shoulder was heavier than ever for this start due to the team's situation. The previous day's game (the 13th) was designated as a bullpen day, resulting in extreme fatigue among the relief pitchers. The opposing starter was also Lotte's foreign ace, Jeremy Wisely, making it crucial for the starter to pitch deep into the innings in a tense pitching duel. Moreover, Lim had taken the mound just four days after his last start against the SSG Landers on the 9th.

Yet, there was no sign of exhaustion. On the contrary, the four-day rest rotation, spanning from Tuesday to Sunday, sharpened Lim Chan-kyu's focus. After the game, Lim admitted, "I think my performance is best when I pitch after four days of rest rather than after a long break or a normal rotation," but added, "My finger feel and details came alive, allowing me to pitch longer innings."

He continued, "In fact, the bullpen was heavily used, and the opposing starter was Wisely, so I thought it would be best to go as long as possible. My pitch count decreased early on, which allowed me to endure longer," conveying his determination to hold the line on the mound to relieve the burden on the bullpen.

In fact, the biggest crisis of the day came in the bottom of the fifth inning. After giving up a hit-by-pitch to leadoff batter Son Ho-young, the situation quickly turned into a desperate, bases-loaded, no-out scenario. It was a moment where the game's momentum could have completely shifted, but Lim Chan-kyu, as befits an ace, maintained his composure.

Reflecting on the crisis, Lim said, "If I had tried to handle it alone, a bigger variable might have come in. If I had tried to throw more precisely at that point, the count might have become unfavorable. Since it was early in the inning, I decided to quickly get the batters out."

He noted that the crisis was averted without allowing a run thanks to the fielders' defense. In particular, second baseman Shin Min-jae shone with his quick judgment, fielding a ground ball hit by Hwang Seong-bin and throwing to third base to eliminate the preceding runner, Son Seong-bin. Lim praised, "(Shin) Min-jae's play is not something that can be learned; it's innate sense. He made a quick decision," offering his full applause to the fielders.

In today's game, Lim Chan-kyu made a significant impact not only with his skill but also with his warm character, showing consideration for opposing players. Son Ho-young of Lotte, who was replaced after being hit by Lim's pitch in the bottom of the fifth, fortunately received a medical assessment indicating no serious injury.

After the game, Lim Chan-kyu reportedly checked on Son Ho-young's condition and immediately went to the back of the dugout to offer a sincere apology. He said, "I met with him separately after the game and apologized again. It wasn't intentional, so I truly feel relieved."

Although he has now ridden a seven-game winning streak as a starter and regained a stable flow after a slow start to the season, Lim Chan-kyu was focused solely on "team victory" rather than personal records. He stated, "I have no personal ambition for wins. Today, I just went up with the mindset that 'I will make sure the team doesn't lose in the game I start.'" He added with a smile, "I believed that if we could limit runs in a tight game flow, the batters would turn it around. I felt really good when we took the lead in the seventh inning."

His sense of responsibility to willingly shoulder seven innings for the fatigued bullpen the day before, his maturity in trusting teammates even in crisis, and his sportsmanship in considering opposing players first. Lim Chan-kyu's ace instincts, having forgotten defeat, are firmly supporting the upward momentum of the LG Twins.

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*This content was translated by AI.