*This content was translated by AI.
Ko Woo-seok (28), who moved from the Detroit Tigers to the Minnesota Twins, waited in the bullpen but ultimately did not step onto the mound. With no appearance opportunity for two consecutive games since joining the big leagues, his MLB debut has been postponed once again. The tight game flow suggests that the bench is adjusting the timing of Ko's entry to a more relaxed situation.
On the 9th (Korean time), Minnesota secured a dramatic 6-5 comeback victory against the Cleveland Guardians in a home game at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, thanks to an Alan Roden walk-off hit that broke through in the bottom of the 9th inning in the '2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)' matchup.
In fact, the game from mid-innings onward was a fierce back-and-forth battle. With the score tied at 0-0, Cleveland seized the initiative in the top of the 4th. Brian Rocky hit a two-run home run with a runner on first base, followed immediately by Reese Hoskins hitting a back-to-back home run over the left-field wall, putting them ahead 3-0.
Minnesota responded right away. With bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 4th thanks to consecutive hits from Lee, Clemens, and Bell, Luis drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run. Then, Kischal's sacrifice fly to center field and Roden's two-run single to left-center followed in quick succession, tying the game at 3-3 almost instantly.
In the top of the 7th, Cleveland pulled ahead again. Chase DeLott's two-run single to right field and Rocky's sacrifice bunt allowed runners to score one after another, extending their lead to 5-3. However, Minnesota tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th with bases loaded, thanks to consecutive bases-loaded walks from Lee and Clemens.
The outcome was decided in the bottom of the 9th. Minnesota, which had missed a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, once again found itself in a bases-loaded situation with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, this time for a walk-off chance. Batting as a pinch-hitter, Roden engaged in a full-count battle and hit a thrilling walk-off single to seal the game.
Throughout the game, the tight contest remained within a one- or two-run margin, so Ko Woo-seok never got his turn to pitch. It is interpreted that the Minnesota coaching staff will aim for a more comfortable situation rather than a high-pressure moment when introducing Ko to the big leagues. After playing the final game of their three-game series against Cleveland on the 10th, Minnesota will conclude its first-half schedule with a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
