'Super breakout': LG's alarming upward surge, 5-game consecutive scoreless relief performance → Moon Bo-kyung has also fully revived! Is this the power of the 'defending champion'?

*This content was translated by AI.

The upward surge of 'defending champion' LG Twins toward autumn is fierce. Amid perfect harmony between pitching and batting, they are racing through five consecutive victories, officially igniting their chase for the top spot. Momentum has been gained through the sequential addition of left-handed relievers John Kennedy (32) and Go Woo-seok (28). Additionally, key infielder Moon Bo-kyung (26) is also firing up with his bat.

On the 4th, LG overturned a 0-3 deficit in a home game against Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium located in Songpa-gu, Seoul, securing a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory. With this win, third-place LG extended their winning streak to five games and has now closed the gap on second-place Samsung by just 3.5 games.

LG's current five-game winning run was nothing short of solid pitching and batting balance. After kicking off the streak with an 8-3 victory over Lotte at Sajik on August 29, LG swept a midweek three-game series against Doosan after moving to Jamsil. On the first day, they took early control with a 3-1 win behind strong pitching by starter Lim Chan-gyu. On the second day, despite deploying temporary starter Kim Yun-sik, the bullpen featuring Kim Jin-soo, Lee Woo-chan, Kim Young-woo, Kennedy, Woo Kang-hoon, and Son Ju-young all held opponents scoreless, securing a 5-1 victory.

On the third day, they earned a narrow 1-0 win over Doosan behind Park Si-won's five-inning scoreless performance, completing a sweep of the rivalry series. The game on the 3rd was especially significant as it was a victory against Doosan's ace, Kwak Bin. Then, on the fourth day, they completed a 4-3 comeback drama against Samsung, continuing their unstoppable five-game winning streak.

The biggest driving force behind the winning streak is the 'iron wall bullpen' that has recorded scoreless innings in all five games. In the game on the 4th, starter KARA-sco delivered six innings with three earned runs, achieving a quality start (defined as six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs), meeting the criteria for a winning pitcher before handing over to a bullpen that showcased iron-clad defense. Kennedy erased two scoreless innings in a tense one-run game, and in the top of the 9th, Go Woo-seok, who returned to his former team after attempting a challenge in Major League Baseball, took the mound in the KBO League for the first time in 1,078 days, perfectly closing out an inning and recording his 140th career save.

Adding to this was the complete revival of 'problem solver' Moon Bo-kyung, which capped off the performance. In the game on the 4th, trailing 0-3, after Song Chan-ui's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 6th inning narrowed the gap, Moon Bo-kyung stepped up to the plate with one out and runners on first and second bases. He delivered a decisive two-run tying hit that reset the game, sending Jamsil Stadium into a frenzy of excitement. With Moon Bo-kyung's home run completely shifting momentum in LG's favor, Cheon Seong-ho soon followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly, instantly creating a 4-3 comeback. Moon Bo-kyung's batting average over his last 10 games is an impressive 0.364 (12 hits in 33 at-bats). He has driven in seven runs across those 10 games.

With unwavering focus that never misses a critical moment, Moon Bo-kyung's scorching hitting form, and the bullpen that has locked down the back door with five consecutive scoreless innings, the upward surge of 'defending champion' LG is rising more steeply than ever before. LG is now preparing to go all out in every game. In remaining games, they plan to maintain a four-starter rotation featuring KARA-sco, Tollhurst, Lim Chan-gyu, and Park Si-won. It remains highly intriguing to see how far LG's momentum will carry them.

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*This content was translated by AI.