'LG fans can't leave even when they lose' — Moon Jung-bin's direct hit to the left-field wall for a 3-run triple → Cheon Seong-ho was hit by a pitch at first base [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Even when trailing by a large margin, LG Twins fans do not easily leave, inspired by the best efforts of non-starting players. This time, the protagonist was Moon Jung-bin (23), a former child star from the popular LG Twins+Children program.

On the 25th, LG lost 6-11 to the Samsung Lions in a regular-season home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this loss, the first-place LG's winning streak ended at five games, leaving them with 47 wins and 26 losses. They now trail the second-place KT Wiz, which won on the same day, by three games. Samsung, avoiding a three-game sweep, maintained third place with 41 wins, two ties, and 30 losses.

The game was chaotic from the start. In the top of the 1st inning, an unexpected spectator intrusion occurred in right field. Then, just before the bottom of the 8th inning, heavy rain poured for about 20 minutes, temporarily halting the game. The pitcher's mound was in disarray. Starting pitcher Lee Jeong-yong allowed four runs in the 1st inning and four more in the 2nd, finishing five innings with nine hits allowed (one home run), six walks and hit-by-pitches (five walks, one hit-by-pitch), two strikeouts, and eight total runs surrendered, losing control of the game early.

LG, which had to head straight to Busan after the game, began substituting starting players before the third inning to prepare for a three-game road series against the Lotte Giants. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Park Hae-min was replaced by Hong Chang-ki for stamina management. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Lee Young-bin and Moon Jung-bin entered the game, replacing Oh Ji-hwan and Austin Dean, respectively.

Even though the score was already 0-8 in Samsung's favor and starting players had been substituted, LG fans near first base did not leave. The season's 33rd sellout crowd of 23,750 spectators remained in their seats.

These backup players lived up to expectations. The most anticipated player was Moon Jung-bin, a promising right-handed power hitter who has drawn high expectations this season. Before the game, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop placed Cheon Seong-ho in the leadoff spot against Ariel Jara, stating, "(Cheon) Seong-ho will inevitably face unfavorable situations, while (Moon) Jung-bin will inevitably face favorable situations."

This decision was based on the judgment that Cheon Seong-ho, who gained a level of growth through full-time opportunities last year, and Moon Jung-bin, who is currently building experience similar to Cheon's last year, have different development tracks. Jara, who joined the KBO League in 2023, has recorded 10 wins in three consecutive seasons and 39 wins before this game, making him a top-tier pitcher in the league.

Manager Yeom previously stated, "I believe (Cheon) Seong-ho is definitely growing by facing difficult pitchers. If I put (Moon) Jung-bin in that spot, he will clearly fail repeatedly, and he won't be able to grow. In terms of player development, I do not believe that giving vague opportunities at any time is a good experience."

However, on this day, Moon Jung-bin thoroughly dominated Jara, easily surpassing expectations. In the bottom of the 4th inning, leading off, Moon hit a two-seam fastball from Jara clocked at 145 km/h (90 mph) and recorded a single to left field.

In his second at-bat of the bottom of the 5th inning, Moon delighted the fans with a massive 3-run triple that looked like a home run. With two outs and a runner on first, Moon smashed a high fastball from Jara clocked at 147 km/h (91 mph) all the way to the end of the center-field wall. The ball struck the top of the center-field wall directly, and Samsung center fielder Kim Ji-chan could not catch it, resulting in a triple.

Cheon Seong-ho, who was also expected alongside Moon Jung-bin, received applause for his hustle plays without holding back. LG's first run also came from Cheon Seong-ho's bat. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the score 0-8, one out, and runners on first and third, Cheon scored a run with a ground ball to second base.

In the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs, Cheon found himself in a 0-ball, 2-strike count against Jara but walked four pitches in a row before hitting an infield single. The ball headed toward second base, making it difficult, but he slid headfirst and was ruled safe after video review. As a result, Jara could not complete seven innings and was replaced by Lee Seung-min.

Cheon Seong-ho finally delivered a solid hit in his final at-bat. With Moon Bo-kyung's solo home run over the fence and Shin Min-jae's ground ball RBI making the score 5-11 in the bottom of the 8th inning with one out and runners on first and third, Cheon hit a 1-run single to right field, capping off LG's final run of the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.