'Win five times for me' LG's winning formula: 'Go Woo-seok + Son Ju-young effect → 6-game win streak'... "I will make sure to win every time you come and let you leave victorious"

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins have found their winning formula for the postseason race.

On the 19th, LG secured a 2-1 victory over Hanwha Eagles in a home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

With six consecutive wins, LG has played 130 games with a record of 74 wins, 55 losses, and 1 tie, maintaining third place. They have narrowed the gap to second-place Samsung Lions by three games.

LG, which has regained its recent momentum, has recorded 10 wins and 4 losses in September with a winning percentage of 0.714, closely trailing KT Wiz (0.733).

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop praised the revitalized lineup ahead of the game but emphasized, "The most important thing is that (Go) Woo-seok has come and stabilized the middle of our bullpen, allowing other players to perform well."

Before Go Woo-seok joined, LG's bullpen was unstable. Although their September bullpen ERA remains at 5.33, ranking eighth, the situation has completely changed. They now have the ability to secure wins decisively. In games where they led through five innings in September, LG has won all eight contests.

Starting pitcher Im Chan-kyu held Hanwha Eagles scoreless for seven innings with only one run allowed, but the offense managed just one run, leading to a tense eighth inning. Manager Yeom chose Go Woo-seok.

Since returning, Go Woo-seok has appeared in five games, pitching 7⅓ innings with two wins, no losses, one save, and one hold without allowing an earned run. He allowed a single by leadoff batter Jung Eun-won followed by a stolen base to second base but remained composed even with no outs and runners on second. He struck out Sim Woo-jun with a high-velocity 154 km/h fastball that resulted in a swing-and-miss, then retired Choi In-ho with a low inside curveball for another strikeout. Even Han Ji-yoon was retired via a third baseman's grounder, completing the inning without allowing any runs.

In the bottom of the 8th, Lee Jae-won hit a towering home run over the center field fence to take the lead. In the ninth, closer Son Ju-young naturally took the mound.

He retired Kang Baek-ho via a second baseman's grounder and Heo In-seo with a catcher's strikeout on a foul tip. After issuing a walk to Kim Tae-yeon and allowing a hit to Park Jung-hyun, he faced a critical situation with two outs and runners on first and third bases. However, he retired Yu Min via a shortstop grounder, securing the win for his team and recording his 29th save of the season. Go Woo-seok earned three wins (one save, one hold) this season.

After the game, Manager Yeom expressed satisfaction: "In a tight situation, our reliable relievers Go Woo-seok and Son Ju-young held their innings firmly, allowing us to secure the victory."

Go Woo-seok, who returned to his former team this month after attempting to play in the United States, has pitched 8⅓ innings in six games with three wins, no losses, one save, and one hold. He has allowed only one earned run, posted a batting average against of 0.143, and recorded a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.84, delivering performances surpassing his previous season as the league's top reliever.

The Go Woo-seok effect has also extended to Son Ju-young. Early in the season, when Yoo Young-chan was sidelined due to injury, Son unexpectedly transitioned to closer and emerged as one of the league's elite closers, though he faced challenges in July as the bullpen became unstable.

However, in six games played this month, he has allowed zero runs and recorded five saves. The synergy with Go Woo-seok is clearly shining through.

After the game, Go Woo-seok said, "I'm so happy to continue our winning streak. I hope we can keep the streak going until tomorrow's game, finish the week well, and maintain a positive atmosphere into next week." He added, "Every time I come in to pitch, the position players have played excellent defense. It's a great luck to step onto the mound with strong defensive support not only from (Gu) Bon-hyuk but also from (Oh) Ji-hwan, (Shin) Min-jae, and all outfielders."

He continued, "There are times when I need to support the defense, so I believe I must work harder to record more strikeouts."

Son Ju-young said, "Today's game remained tighter than expected throughout, and Lee Jae-won's home run in a crucial situation boosted our energy and fighting spirit even further."

He focused on maintaining composure during critical moments. Son explained, "The pitch to Park Jung-hyun was well-placed, but the bat broke, resulting in a hit. It was an unlucky situation, but from the next batter onward, I decided to just throw my own pitches. Trusting Dong-won's lead and the coaches' instructions led to a positive outcome."

Despite the sudden change in role, he now has only one save away from reaching 30 saves for the season. Son stated, "When I finish with just one save left to reach my pre-season goal of 30, my teammates will congratulate me. During the remaining part of the season, I will focus more on managing my body to prepare well for the postseason."

He also did not forget to thank the fans. Go Woo-seok said, "I am grateful to all the fans who have visited the stadium frequently. We will do our best to continue our winning streak and ensure that every time you come, we win so you can leave victorious." Son Ju-young added, "It was an afternoon game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium for the first time in a while, with great weather and a full crowd of fans. Thank you for cheering loudly, which heightened both tension and excitement. We will continue to fight hard in the race for standings to maintain this enjoyable atmosphere."

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*This content was translated by AI.