'Austin 39th Home Run + Lim Chan-kyu 14th Win' LG Crushes Samsung 13-5! Second-place Samsung Falls 2 Games Behind First-place KT [Daegu On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins thoroughly defeated Samsung Lions and surged to a two-game winning streak. Samsung, urgently chasing the top spot, suffered a painful blow.

On the 13th, LG secured a decisive 13-5 victory over Samsung in an away game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park during the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.' Trailing 0-2 in the first inning, LG showcased its focus by scoring five runs in the fourth inning alone to turn the tide.

With this win, following a 4-3 victory the previous day (12th), LG swept both weekend games and firmly held onto third place. Meanwhile, Samsung fell into a two-game losing streak, widening the gap with first-place KT Wiz—who defeated Lotte Giants that day—from one game to two games.

For this game, LG fielded Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Hong Chang-ki (right fielder) in its starting lineup. Lim Chan-kyu was the starting pitcher.

Samsung countered with Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Park Seung-gyu (left fielder), Diaz (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), and Sim Jae-hoon (shortstop) in that order. Starting pitcher Choi Won-tae took the mound for Samsung.

Samsung struck first. In the bottom of the first inning with one out, Kim Sung-yoon capitalized on a 1-ball, 1-strike count to hit a single up the middle, opening the scoring. Following batter Park Seung-gyu watched the first pitch go for a strike before connecting on Lim Chan-kyu's second pitch, launching a 113-meter two-run home run over the left-field fence. Park Seung-gyu's 11th home run of the season gave Samsung a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, LG immediately regained focus to tie the game. After one out, Hong Chang-ki drew a walk on a seven-pitch at-bat, followed by Shin Min-jae's single up the middle, creating a one-out, first-and-second opportunity. Park Hae-min struck out, seemingly halting momentum, but Austin reached base with an infield hit toward third base, extending the chance to a bases-loaded situation with two outs. The hero was fourth hitter Song Chan-ui. With a 2-strike count, Song connected on the third pitch for a two-run single up the left side, tying the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, LG built a big inning to seize control. Koo Bon-hyuk's single to center-left field and Oh Ji-hwan's sacrifice bunt created a one-out, second-base situation. Park Dong-won then singled up the left side, putting runners on first and third. Samsung replaced starting pitcher Choi Won-tae with left-handed reliever Lee Seung-hyun, but Hong Chang-ki drew a straight walk to load the bases.

Shin Min-jae followed with a one-run single up the middle. Although Samsung again switched pitchers to Yang Chang-seop, Park Hae-min hit a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the lead to 4-2. LG's offense showed no signs of stopping. With two outs and runners on first and second, Austin stepped into the batter's box. After a 2-ball, 2-strike count, he connected on the fifth pitch, launching a three-run home run to left field (110 meters). LG scored five runs in the fourth inning alone, completely taking control of the game.

Leading 7-2, LG added two more runs in the top of the fifth with one out and bases loaded: Shin Min-jae's one-run single and Park Hae-min's sacrifice fly to center field pushed the score to 9-2. Samsung managed to score one run in the bottom of the sixth on Park Seung-gyu's consecutive solo home runs, but LG immediately answered in the top of the seventh with Oh Ji-hwan's solo home run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Samsung added a run when Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a triple to center-left field and scored on Kim Sang-jun's shortstop ground ball, but it was insufficient to close the gap.

LG added three more runs in the top of the eighth, including a home run, firmly sealing the victory. With one out and runners on second, Moon Bo-kyung hit an RBI double to center-left field. Then, with two outs and runners on second and third, Oh Ji-hwan hit a multi-run home run. After an eight-pitch battle against Im Ki-young, Oh launched a massive 132-meter two-run home run over the center-field fence, extending the lead to 13-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Samsung had an RBI single by Kim Heon-gon with two outs and runners on first and third, but it had no impact on the outcome.

LG starting pitcher Lim Chan-kyu earned his 14th win of the season with a strong performance: seven innings, seven hits allowed (two home runs), six strikeouts, four walks, and four earned runs. Offensively, Shin Min-jae led the way with three hits, one walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Austin and Song Chan-ui, along with Koo Bon-hyuk and Oh Ji-hwan, all recorded multi-hit games, boosting the team's firepower. For Samsung, Park Seung-gyu fought hard with four at-bats, two hits (two home runs), and three RBIs, but his efforts were overshadowed by the loss.

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*This content was translated by AI.