LG, which had passed the most important juncture for the leader Mercury, went on a winning streak again and solidified its dominance. On the other hand, KIA fell into a losing streak after nine consecutive wins.
In the first game of the 4-game weekend (including a double header on the 9th) against KIA in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 8th, LG showed a combination of starting pitcher Kim Yun-sik’s good pitching and batting that did not miss the opportunity and scored a goal. They tied up and won big, 12-2.안전놀이터
LG (70 wins, 44 losses, 2 draws), which recorded 2 wins and 1 loss in 3 consecutive midweek games against KT, the 2nd place in the league, and widened the game gap by 1 game, was the first in the league this season to reach 70 wins, keeping up with the 2nd place teams. did not allow On the other hand, KIA (57 wins, 52 losses, 2 draws), which once rose to 4th place with an exciting 9-game winning streak, had its momentum interrupted once by two consecutive losses.
This is the first time in 10 years since 2013 that LG was the first to reach 70 wins. At that time, LG recorded 70 wins and 47 losses (.598) in 117 games. However, they were unable to maintain first place until the end of the regular season and finished in second place. In the history of the KBO League, the first 70-win team to win the regular season was 75.8% (25 out of 33 times), and the number of times they reached the top of the Korean Series was 20 times, or 60.6%.
Starting pitcher Kim Yun-sik, who went through a long period of adjustment in the second team after a sluggish start to the season, was somewhat disappointed as he could not finish the 6th inning, but pitched well, allowing 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run in 5⅔ innings, earning his 4th win of the season. The bullpen, starting with Baek Seung-hyun, also contributed to the team’s victory by blocking KIA’s pursuit well.
In the batting lineup, Oh Ji-hwan played an active role, hitting an important timely hit in the middle of the game and scoring 4 RBIs. If Oh Ji-hwan started the game, Hong Chang-gi, who had 3 hits and 2 RBIs, finished the game. Kim Hyun-soo and Moon Bo-kyung also contributed to the team’s victory by recording multiple hits. Seongju Moon also added 2 RBIs. LG scored double-digit scores in its 14th double-digit scoring game of the season and the first two consecutive games of the season.
KIA’s starting pitcher Young-Cheol Yoon recorded 5 hits, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks, and 4 runs (3 earned runs) in 5 innings, and Ji-Min Choi, who came up to put out the fire in a critical situation in the 6th inning, did not do his part. Afterwards, the chase team pitchers were unable to withstand the LG batters and left behind disappointing results. In the batting lineup, Na Seong-beom recorded 2 hits, but was weak overall. Lee Chang-jin and Kim Sun-bin’s RBIs also failed to show much value amid the large number of runs conceded.
LG, energized by the victory the previous day, selected Kim Yun-sik as the starter that day and showed its determination to continue its winning streak by including all key players in the lineup. Except for Yoo Young-chan, who had to rest due to slight symptoms of phlegm, the remaining bullpen pitchers were able to stand by normally. LG coach Yeom Kyeong-yeop added that Ko Woo-seok, who was fatigued during the three-game series during the week, could also stand by during a save situation in the 9th inning.
On the other hand, the key for KIA, whose 9-game winning streak was cut off due to a loss the previous day, was to minimize the aftereffects of their winning streak. Yoon Young-cheol, a high school graduate rookie, started as a starter against LG for the first time this season, and Han Jun-su came on as a starter while starting catcher Kim Tae-gun was resting. Choi Won-jun appeared in the 9th batting order and was given another opportunity. Although we had a winning streak, the bullpen wasted little. On this day, all winning teams were available to stand by.
Kim Yun-sik, who showed the possibility of a revival by pitching well against Hanwha on September 2nd before returning to the first team, allowing 1 run in 5 innings, blocked KIA’s powerful batting lineup with good pitching. The speed of the fastball reached the mid-140 km/h range, and he was good at controlling the speed and speed based on his main weapon, the slider, which induced missed balls from KIA batters. His overall control wasn’t bad either. He played a big role in taking the lead early in the game with his power on the ball.
Then LG picked up the metallurgy score. After one out in the first inning, Shin Min-jae reached base with a walk, and Kim Hyun-soo hit a double to left-center. While quick-footed Shin Min-jae went to third base, center fielder Choi Won-jun was unable to catch the ball at once. Shin Min-jae, who confirmed this, could not stay still. He picked up the pace and reached home in an instant, scoring the first point.
Young-Cheol Yoon successfully prevented the crisis in the first inning without allowing any additional runs, but the KIA batting lineup was blocked by Yun-Sik Kim and could not make much progress. Meanwhile, LG scored an additional point in the 4th inning for a 1-0 lead. The opportunity started again with a walk after one out. Austin chose to walk, and Bo-Kyung Moon sent a runner to third base with a hit to left-center. Here, Oh Ji-hwan recorded a sacrifice fly to center field and added one point.
Where does KIA’s 9-game winning streak go… KIA collapses in the 6th inning, LG’s concentration and KIA’s mistakes
LG did not miss the opportunity that came in the 6th inning, leading 2-0. As leader Kim Hyun-soo opened the way with a hit to right, Austin supported the lead with a hit to left-center. KIA, which had ample time to spare in its bullpen, took a gamble here. They tried to put out the fire by deploying Choi Ji-min, a sure-to-win team member. However, Choi Ji-min fell first due to a mistake.
Moon Bo-kyung hit a sacrifice bunt with no outs on first and second base. It was a very honest sacrifice bunt that rolled in front of the pitcher. However, Choi Ji-min, who wanted to throw to third base, failed to keep his balance during the throw, and the throw leaked to the side, causing second base runner Kim Hyun-soo to hit home. The runners went one more base, scored one run, and settled back into second and third base with no outs. It was a painful mistake for KIA.
Oh Ji-hwan drove the wedge. He hit Choi Ji-min’s fastball in a favorable count of 3B and hit a hit that fell next to right field and rolled to the fence. Both runners hit home to make it 5-0, and Oh Ji-hwan ran all the way to third base. LG added one point when Moon Seong-joo’s sacrifice fly to center field left one out. It was disappointing that center fielder Choi Won-jun could not find the right timing to win.
KIA, who had been scoreless for 19 consecutive innings, was satisfied with only breaking the streak of zero in the 6th inning. After one out, Na Seong-beom’s infield hit and Choi Hyeong-woo’s right-handed hit gave them a chance, and after two outs, Kim Sun-bin’s timely hit to right-handed led them to one run. However, KIA’s batting line was weak, and LG scored in the 7th inning.
LG got on base again in the 7th inning when leadoff pitcher Hong Chang-ki hit a left-field hit against third pitcher Kim Seung-hyun. Shin Min-jae then chose a straight walk. With no outs on first and second base, Kim Hyun-soo hit a double play toward second base and the opportunity seemed to have been lost, but concentration could not be ignored. Joo-Hyun Jeong extended the opportunity by walking at the end of a seven-pitch match, Bo-Kyung Moon hit a timely hit to center field, and Oh Ji-Hwan hit a timely hit to right-center to add two more runs to take the lead to 8-1.
In the ensuing situation, Park Dong-won walked, creating two outs, and LG called in the fourth pitcher, Kim Yu-shin, and Moon Seong-ju recorded a walk to make it 9-1. It was terrifying concentration. It doesn’t end here either. With the bases loaded, LG scored double-digit runs with Park Hae-min hitting a timely hit in the middle, and Hong Chang-gi’s 2-RBI hit to the right field pushed them up to 12-1, effectively deciding the game.
While LG prepared for tomorrow by replacing all of the starters except Moon Seong-ju, KIA also called all key players to the dugout and promised the next game. KIA made up for one point with Lee Chang-jin’s timely hit in the 8th inning, but it did not have much of an impact on the already tilted game.
LG coach Yeom Kyeong-yeop said after the game, “Kim Hyun-soo’s first point allowed us to set the overall flow of the game, and captain Oh Ji-hwan led the attack by scoring runs in each situation where an additional point was needed.” I am looking forward to seeing things return to the same form as before and I think it will be of great help to the team. I look forward to maintaining the current balance. We were able to win today thanks to the support of the fans who came all the way from far away to cheer us on.” He said.