Tollhurst's perfect seven innings → 203cm tall foreign investor stumbles in debut! LG defeats KT 1-0, secures winning series [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins' first overseas starter Anders Tollhurst (27) finally delivered the pitching performance fans had hoped for. Meanwhile, new Asia quota player John Kennedy (32) enjoyed a successful KBO League debut.

On the 19th, LG secured a narrow 1-0 victory over KT Wiz in their home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium. With this win, third-place LG improved to 60 wins, 1 tie, and 48 losses, closing the gap to first-place KT (62 wins, 2 ties, 41 losses) by 4.5 games.

Tollhurst's stingy pitching held KT's powerful lineup to just two hits. The starting pitcher tossed seven innings (97 pitches), allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out five batters without surrendering a run—his eleventh win of the season (with nine losses). This marked his first scoreless outing in seven games, tying him with Im Chan-kyu (LG) and Adam Oller (KIA Tigers) for sole possession of first place in league wins.

Following Tollhurst, Woo Kang-hoon (⅓ inning), Kennedy (⅔ inning), and Son Ju-young (one inning) held the line without allowing any runs, preserving LG's one-run lead until the end. Kennedy, who joined LG dramatically, entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with one out and a runner on first base. He retired Oh Yun-seok via a double play after four pitches to complete his debut. During the double-play execution, Kennedy struggled to control his 203cm frame, stumbling awkwardly before barely securing the throw, drawing laughter from all spectators.

It was disappointing that LG managed only one run despite generating eight hits overall. Moon Bo-kyung recorded two hits in three at-bats, becoming the only player with a multi-hit game for either team.

LG's lineup featured Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Jung-bin (designated hitter), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Lee Ju-heon (catcher), and Hong Chang-gi (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Anders Tollhurst.

KT countered with Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (right fielder), Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Kim Min-hyuk (designated hitter), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Their starting pitcher was Daniel Davis.

The opening run belonged to home team LG. In the top of the first inning, leadoff batter Shin Min-jae successfully reached base with a surprise bunt. Park Hae-min failed on his initial bunt attempt, and Austin Dean grounded out to shortstop for two outs, but Moon Jung-bin opened another opportunity with a single to left field. Song Chan-ui then drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to center field off Daniel's outside cutter.

LG struggled to build a larger lead. In the bottom of the fourth with no outs and a runner on first, Oh Ji-hwan hit into a double play. In the fifth, consecutive hits by Park Hae-min and Austin created a two-out situation with runners on first and second, but Moon Jung-bin struck out swinging.

In the seventh, Hong Chang-gi and Shin Min-jae drew back-to-back walks to create a bases-empty opportunity with no outs and runners on first and second. However, when Park Hae-min hit a fly ball to center field, runner Choi Won-young failed to tag up at second base, instantly resulting in two outs. Austin also struck out swinging, leaving the score unchanged.

KT, unable to even reach base consistently, suffered a lifeless 0-1 defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.