'Bases-loaded walk → Walk → Walk' LG Self-Destructs in Shocking Defeat to Bottom-Ranked Kiwoom, 3-8... Three-Game Losing Streak Puts Third Place at Risk [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Bottom-ranked Kiwoom Heroes defeated the powerful LG Twins thanks to strong pitching from starter Ha Young-min and a lineup led by Seo Geon-chang. LG completely lost momentum after allowing three consecutive bases-loaded walks in the chase phase.

Kiwoom won 8-3 against LG in an away game during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 8th. The bottom-ranked Kiwoom improved to 45 wins, 3 draws, and 80 losses with two consecutive victories, while LG, now on a three-game losing streak, fell to 68 wins, 1 draw, and 54 losses, putting their third-place standing in jeopardy.

The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kiwoom took a 1-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Seo Geon-chang hit a triple that split the gap between left and center field. Choo Jae-hyun was hit by a pitch and reached base, followed by Matt Davidson and Keston Hiura hitting consecutive one-run doubles to extend the lead.

The crisis continued. Kim Woong-bin singled through the right side to load the bases, and Kim Dong-heon, pinch hitter An Chi-hong, and Park Ju-hong drew three consecutive bases-loaded walks to score three runs. Kwon Hyuk-bin added an RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field, but the long bottom of the fifth inning finally ended after Seo Geon-chang flew out to left field and Choo Jae-hyun struck out swinging.

LG's chronic weakness of collapsing within a single inning was once again exposed. Kim Jin-su gave up two hits, one hit-by-pitch, and three runs in 1/3 inning; Lee Woo-chan allowed two hits, one walk, and three runs in zero innings; and Kim Young-woo surrendered two walks without allowing any earned runs over one inning, leaving the team shaken.

The lineup also fell short. They managed only two hits through seven innings and failed to create a close contest. It wasn't until the eighth inning that Shin Min-jae drew a walk and Cheon Seong-ho hit an infield single, creating a one-out, first-and-second situation where Austin Dean delivered with a two-run double down the center-field wall. Later, Moon Jung-bin added an RBI single to right field, but it was not enough to turn the tide.

In the pitching duel, Kiwoom came out ahead. Ha Young-min pitched six innings, allowing two hits and four walks (three walks and one hit-by-pitch), striking out two batters while remaining scoreless, earning his sixth win of the season (with eight losses). In contrast, LG's Park Si-won lasted 3⅔ innings, giving up four hits and two walks, striking out three, and allowing one run, resulting in his fourth loss of the season (with one win).

All Kiwoom starters except Park Ju-hong recorded a hit. Among them, Seo Geon-chang stood out with five at-bats, two hits, one RBI, and one run scored, including a large triple. Kwon Hyuk-bin also shone with three at-bats, two hits, and one RBI, including the go-ahead run. For LG, Austin Dean went 3-for-3 with one hit, one RBI, and one walk, achieving the rare feat of 100 runs and 100 RBIs in a single season — only the 43rd player in KBO history to do so — calming his fans.

On this day, Kiwoom set their batting order as follows: Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Choo Jae-hyun (right fielder), Matt Davidson (first baseman), Keston Hiura (left fielder), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Kim Dong-heon (catcher), Yeom Seung-won (second baseman), Park Ju-hong (center fielder), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Ha Young-min.

In response, LG arranged their lineup as: Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Hong Chang-gi (right fielder), Gu Bon-hyeok (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), and Park Dong-won (catcher). The starting pitcher was Park Si-won.

While LG batters were held in check by Ha Young-min, the visiting team Kiwoom steadily scored runs. In the top of the third inning, leadoff hitter Park Ju-hong drew a walk, and Kwon Hyuk-bin singled to left field to reach base. Seo Geon-chang then hit a ground ball to the pitcher, advancing runners to first and third. Choo Jae-hyun followed with an RBI single to right field, giving Kiwoom the lead.

After the big fifth inning, another go-ahead run in the seventh also started with Park Ju-hong. With two outs, he was hit by a pitch and reached base. Kwon Hyuk-bin then singled to left field, creating a scoring opportunity. Seo Geon-chang followed with an RBI single to center field, extending the lead to eight runs.

LG scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning but were held scoreless in the ninth, ultimately confirming their third consecutive loss.

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*This content was translated by AI.