'You tried to stop it, didn't you?' comes up again! Son Ju-young's 20th SV... LG defeats Kiwoom 5-3 [Jamsil On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The LG Twins started the week on a high note, led by the powerful performance of right-handed slugger Moon Jung-bin (23). Closer Son Ju-young (28) secured his 20th save of the season, remaining scoreless despite another crisis.

On the 28th, LG defeated Kiwoom Heroes 5-3 in a regular-season home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, third-place LG improved to 54 wins and 41 losses, maintaining a 2.5-game lead over KT Wiz (54 wins, 2 ties, 36 losses), who also won on the same day. Kiwoom remained in last place with 35 wins, 2 ties, and 61 losses.

The turning point came in the top of the ninth inning when LG led 5-3. Closer Son Ju-young induced a groundout to third base from Lee Hyung-jong, then issued a straight fastball walk to Park Chan-hyuk. He struck out substitute batter Yeo Dong-wook, leaving just one out remaining.

However, Kwon Hyeok-bin's bloop hit barely cleared the third baseman's glove, resulting in a double down the left-field line and instantly creating a bases-loaded situation. Son Ju-young navigated a tense by issuing two large outside pitches to Seo Geon-chang, but a inside fastball induced a groundball to the third-base side, ending the game scoreless.

Offensively, Moon Jung-bin stood out. Starting at fifth in the batting order and first base, Moon went 2-for-3 with one home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, and one walk, recording three times on base. He shone again in the clutch: with the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, one out, and runners on first and second, Moon lifted Park Ji-sung's changeup over the center-left field gap for a home run. Following that, Moon Sung-ju added a go-ahead, two-run double down the left-field line, securing LG's lead.

Moon Sung-ju also contributed significantly, going 3-for-3 with one RBI and one walk, reaching base in every at-bat to help secure the team victory. For Kiwoom, Park Chan-hyuk had a strong performance with 1 hit (including one home run), two RBIs, and one run in three at-bats, but it was not enough to prevent the loss.

In the starting pitcher matchup, LG gained the upper hand. LG's Anders Tolhurst pitched seven innings, allowing six hits (one home run), no walks, striking out seven batters, and giving up three earned runs to earn his ninth win of the season (with eight losses). Kiwoom's Jeon Jun-pyo threw pitches reaching a top speed of 157 km/h but struggled with control, pitching five innings while allowing five hits (one home run), issuing three walks, striking out two batters, and surrendering three earned runs (two unearned).

LG's lineup for the day was: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Moon Sung-ju (left fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Gu Bon-hyuk (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Anders Tolhurst.

Kiwoom countered with the following lineup: Seo Geon-chang (second baseman), Choo Jae-hyun (left fielder), Matt Davidson (first baseman), Ahn Chi-hong (designated hitter), Kim Geon-hee (catcher), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Park Chan-hyuk (right fielder), Im Byung-wook (center fielder), and Kwon Hyeok-bin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Jeon Jun-pyo.

Kiwoom, the visiting team, took the early lead. In the top of the third inning with one out, Im Byung-wook reached base on a single to left field. When Kwon Hyeok-bin hit a groundball toward second base, Seo Geon-chang targeted Tolhurst's first-pitch fastball, which resulted in a go-ahead, two-run single down the left-field line.

That lead did not last long. In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Moon Jung-bin drew a walk, and Oh Ji-hwan reached base on Seo Geon-chang's error, putting runners on first and second. Moon Sung-ju then hit a single to center-left field, loading the bases. Park Dong-won followed with a two-run, go-ahead single down the left-field line that cleared the third baseman's glove, giving LG a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, Moon Jung-bin capitalized on an inside pitch from Jeon Jun-pyo, launching a massive home run over the center-left field wall. The ball traveled 127.9 meters, marking his tenth home run of the season.

Kiwoom responded with a home run of their own. In the top of the seventh inning with one out and a runner on first, Park Chan-hyuk hit an inside pitch from Tolhurst over the left-field wall for a two-run homer. The ball traveled 111.6 meters, just clearing the left-field fence, marking his sixth home run of the season.

However, Kiwoom lost the lead they had so narrowly secured due to a momentary error. In the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, Kiwoom third baseman Kim Woong-bin failed to field Austin Dean's groundball immediately, allowing him to reach base. Moon Bo-kyung then drew a walk after a full count, followed by Moon Jung-bin's go-ahead, two-run single to center-left field and Moon Sung-ju's go-ahead, one-run double down the left-field line, giving LG a 5-3 lead.

For Kiwoom, it was regrettable that they missed a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs in the top of the eighth inning. Against reliever Kim Jin-su, leadoff batter Seo Geon-chang drew a walk. Davidson hit a single to center field, and Ahn Chi-hong walked, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. However, Kim Geon-hee grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, extinguishing any hope of a comeback.

LG closer Son Ju-young preserved the 5-3 victory by inducing a groundout to third base from Seo Geon-chang in the ninth inning with two outs and runners on second and third.

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*This content was translated by AI.