'First time in history to surpass 1 million fans with just 43 games': LG Twins, satisfied with their 'defensive baseball' even after Yeom Kyung-yeop... "Thank you to all the fans" [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The team already reached 1 million spectators by the first half of the season, setting a record-breaking pace for another milestone. With a perfect result added, smiles bloomed across Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

On the 4th, LG defeated the Hanwha Eagles 5-3 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

With a record of 51 wins and 31 losses, LG maintained a 1.5-game lead over second-place Samsung Lions despite the latter's victory on the same day.

Having collapsed helplessly against Hanwha's lineup the previous day, the win secured by Jang Hyun-sik, who recently switched to starting pitcher duties, was especially valuable.

Jang Hyun-sik, a key member of LG's winning rotation, changed his role to starting pitcher around mid-last month and earned his first start victory in 3,191 days with a scoreless five-inning performance against Samsung Lions on the 23rd.

He had struggled just three days earlier against Lotte Giants, allowing four runs in only 2⅔ innings, but this time was different. He threw 88 pitches over five innings, holding Hanwha's batters to just three hits. Although he issued two walks and allowed runners on base, he remained composed and delivered confident pitching throughout.

The lineup also showed strength from the start. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Hong Chang-gi reached base via a hit-by-pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Austin Dean's RBI single. Song Chan-ui and Moon Jeong-bin followed with consecutive RBI hits, extending the lead to 4-0.

After Jang Hyun-sik was pulled in the top of the sixth inning following a three-run home run, LG trailed briefly. However, in the bottom of the sixth, Park Dong-won and Koo Bon-hyuk's singles, followed by Hong Chang-gi's walk, set up Austin Dean to draw a bases-loaded walk, adding two more runs and creating a two-run lead.

Kim Jin-soo closed out the seventh inning, Kim Jin-seong handled the eighth, and even with closer Son Ju-young resting, Yacel Larios stepped in during save situations and cleanly pitched one scoreless inning to secure the win for the team.

After the game, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (59) said, "Jang Hyun-sik fulfilled his role well as a starter. Although we were trailing without additional runs, our winning rotation—Kim Jin-soo, Kim Jin-seong, and Larios—delivered their roles effectively, allowing us to win through defensive baseball."

He added, "Austin Dean's early RBI sparked a big first inning that shifted the game's momentum in our favor. However, without further runs, we found ourselves trailing from mid-game onward. Still, Austin's additional RBIs created crucial breathing room, which I believe had the greatest impact on securing the victory."

On this day, LG drew 23,750 spectators, marking their 35th sellout of the season. With just 43 home games played, they surpassed 1 million total fans—the fewest number of home games required to reach one million spectators since full digital tracking began in 2001 across all KBO teams. In a situation where victory was essential even for celebration, LG delivered an impeccable performance to claim the win.

Manager Yeom praised the entire team: "Today's game was crucial, and I want to commend every player for maintaining focus until the end." He then addressed fans directly: "Thanks to all of you who helped us surpass 1 million home game spectators by showing up in large numbers to cheer, we were able to secure this precious victory. Thank you."

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*This content was translated by AI.