It was shocking, actually. A batting battle was to be expected, but the objective assessment was that the LG Twins would be more dominant on the mound. But it turned out to be the opposite. The KIA Tigers were the stronger team. In a four-game weekend series, including a doubleheader, KIA took the best-of-three series from first-place LG.
In the four games, LG scored 32 points and KIA scored 29 points. In the end, LG took more points, but KIA took the win. When LG won the first game on the 8th, 12-2, it looked like they had the upper hand against KIA. However, in the eighth inning of the first game of the doubleheader on the 9th, KIA came from behind to win 7-6, then won the second game 12-7, and won the third game 8-7 in a tightly contested game on the 10th.
LG’s shock was even greater. In the first game on the 9th, LG was expected to win easily as Im Chan-kyu was on the mound, while KIA had substitute Hwang Dong-ha. On the 10th, LG started Choi Won-tae and KIA started substitute Kim Gun-guk. The game turned out differently than expected.
LG was shocked when Choi Won-tae struggled, giving up seven runs on eight hits in 2⅔ innings. The starting pitcher who gave up a whopping three prospects to the Kiwoom Heroes to win the championship has been struggling.
But even more shocking than Choi Won-tae’s performance in the four-game series is the lackluster performance of the bullpen, which has been LG’s mainstay. It was no secret that LG’s domestic starters were weak. Even if the Korean starters didn’t last more than five innings, the bullpen has been able to keep the team in the game with strong hitting.
But this time, the bullpen couldn’t save the day. In Game 1 on September 9, starter Im Chan-gyu gave up six hits (one home run) and four runs (three earned) in 5⅔ innings, and Jung Woo-young gave up one more run to make it 2-5. But in the top of the seventh, they scored four runs on two walks and three hits, including a solo shot by Park Dong-won, to take a 6-5 lead. With the best bullpen in the game behind them, it looked like they were going to win. Kim Jin-sung came on in the bottom of the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning to continue the winning formula. In the bottom of the eighth, Yoo Young-chan came in, but it was not to be. After back-to-back singles by Kim Sun-bin and Lee Woo-sung, pinch-hitter Ko Jong-wook singled to right to tie the game at 6-6. After getting Kim Tae-gun to fly out to left field to put runners on first and second, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop brought up Go Woo-seok for the final out, but he was hit by a single to center field by Park Chan-ho to make it 6-7. In the top of the ninth inning, LG failed to get Kia closer Jung Hae-young to pop out to end the first game.
In Game 2, LG quickly turned to its bullpen, as starter Son Ju-young gave up three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. However, in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a 5-3 lead, Lee Woo-chan and Park Myung-geun took advantage of the KIA bats. They scored five runs, including a grand slam by pinch-hitter Choi Hyung-woo. The score was 5-8. They scored one run in the top of the sixth to make it 2-1, but Oh Seok-joo gave up another four runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-12.
The 10th game was a tough one as Choi Won-tae scored 7 points, but the LG bats caught up and tied the game at 7-7. However, they gave up the final run in the seventh inning. After Jung Woo-young gave up a single to Park Chan-ho and a stolen base, Kim Jin-sung came on in relief and gave up a single to Choi Won-joon. LG then failed to capitalize on the Kia bullpen and lost the game by one run.
LG went 1-3 in the four-game series, with starter Kim Yoon-sik picking up one win and all three losses coming from the bullpen. The struggling Choi Won-tae could be given some time to adjust, with Lee Min-ho taking over for him in the Futures League. However, LG’s bullpen as a whole has struggled, which is a concern.토토사이트
The good news is that LG has three days off. They have until the 14th to make adjustments before facing the Changwon NC Dinos. Both pitchers and batters will have plenty of time to rest, heal any lingering injuries, and replenish their stamina. It”s the right kind of rest in a situation that could easily lead to a mental breakdown.