"Powerless, eliminated after three straight losses in the preliminary playoffs": LG Twins Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop, "I am sorry for falling short of fans' expectations... We will strive to play desperate baseball" [Preliminary Playoffs Game 3 On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

They lost 10 consecutive games to an opponent who had once dominated them with a record of seven wins and two losses. Neither the foreign pitcher with 112 career wins in Major League Baseball (ML) nor the fighting spirit of players returning from injury could prevent the elimination of the LG Twins. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop's (58) 2026 fall baseball season ended in futility.

On the 20th, at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, LG suffered a decisive 1-13 defeat to the KIA Tigers in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Preliminary Playoffs (준PO, best-of-five series).

Following a 1-5 loss in Game 1 on the 17th in Gwangju and a 3-6 loss in Game 2 on the 18th, LG also dropped Game 3, failing to secure a single win and being eliminated after three consecutive losses. The losing streak against KIA, which had continued since the late regular season, extended to 10 games. Although they led with seven wins and two losses early in the season, they suffered a seven-game losing streak in the regular season before dropping all three games in the Preliminary Playoffs.

After the game, Manager Yeom shared his thoughts with reporters: "We were outmatched by KIA at the plate throughout the series, making it a difficult stretch. Fans had high expectations for this season, and I am sorry that we could not deliver results to match those expectations. Starting from our closing training, we will prepare well to address our shortcomings this season so that we can create another good season next year."

The game was effectively decided from the top of the second inning. LG starter Carlos Karasco allowed a leadoff solo home run with a carry distance of 131.8 meters to Na Seong-beom. Although he recorded Kim Sun-bin on a flyout, a ground ball hit by Han Jun-su was not properly fielded by first baseman Moon Jung-bin, initiating the crisis.

With a center-field single by Kim Gyu-seong and a walk by Ha Ju-seok, the bases were loaded with one out, followed by a left-field RBI single by Park Jeong-woo. The LG bench eventually pulled Karasco and brought in John Kennedy. However, Kennedy also allowed an RBI hit to Park Jae-hyun before giving up a bases-loaded home run with a carry distance of 145.8 meters to Kim Do-young. In an instant, the score widened to 0-7.

The lineup never came alive. LG had scored only four runs in the previous two games. On this day as well, emphasizing offense, they placed Oh Ji-hwan in the second spot and Song Chan-ui in the fourth, and started Moon Sung-ju, who returned from injury, making changes to the batting order. However, LG again managed only one run despite hitting eight singles and extra-base hits. In the bottom of the sixth inning, consecutive hits by Koo Bon-hyuk and Park Hae-min created an opportunity, but they were able to recover only one run.

Defensive errors were also painful. Had Moon Jung-bin properly handled Han Jun-su's ground ball, the second inning might have unfolded in a completely different direction. However, after the error, LG pitchers failed to stop KIA's offense. In addition, Moon Jung-bin showed several disappointing defensive plays, leaving a painful memory from his first fall baseball experience.

Nevertheless, Manager Yeom cited Moon Jung-bin's growth as one of the few gains of this season. When asked by reporters to highlight the team's performance this season, Manager Yeom said, "I think the growth of Song Chan-ui and Moon Jung-bin is a gain. Overall, it was a difficult season as individuals faced hardships, but the players did their best in every game, which allowed us to reach this point," encouraging his players.

At Jamsil, where 23,650 fans filled the stadium for a sellout crowd, LG concluded its fall baseball campaign. As it will leave the existing Jamsil Baseball Stadium at the end of 2026, the final game was all the more regrettable.

Manager Yeom stated, "Despite saying we would prepare a bit more based on our experience in 2024, there were still shortcomings. As mentioned earlier, I think we need to change our thinking a little. Starting from closing training, we plan to proceed with a direction that allows us to play desperate baseball and good baseball backed by effort."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original