It was actually shocking. It was expected that a striking battle would unfold. Still, the objective assessment was that the LG Twins seemed to be more dominant on the mound. But the result was just the opposite. The KIA Tigers were actually stronger. In four consecutive weekend games, including a double header, KIA took the winning series to first place LG with 3 wins and 1 loss.안전놀이터
In 4 games, LG scored 32 points and KIA scored 29 points. Rather, LG took more points, but KIA won more. When LG won the first game on the 8th by a score of 12 to 2, it seemed like LG had won a landslide victory over KIA. However, in the first game of the double header on the 9th, KIA made a comeback and won 7 to 6 in the bottom of the 8th inning, and won the second game 12 to 7, and on the 10th, after a tight game, they won 8 to 7 by 1 run.
LG’s shock was bound to be great. In the first game on the 9th, Lim Chan-gyu appeared for LG and replacement starter Hwang Dong-ha appeared for KIA, so LG was expected to win easily. Also on the 10th, LG’s Choi Won-tae and KIA’s alternate starter Kim Geon-guk faced off as starters. It led to a different development than expected.
LG was shocked as Choi Won-tae showed a poor performance, allowing 8 hits and 7 runs in 2⅔ innings. This is because he is a starting pitcher who traded as many as three prospects to Kiwoom Heroes in order to win the championship, but he is showing increasingly poor performance.
However, what is more shocking than Choi Won-tae in this four-game series is the poor performance of the bullpen that has supported LG so far. It was a known fact that LG’s domestic selection was weak. Even if the domestic starters could not last more than 5 innings, they were able to secure a victory thanks to their strong hitting and strong bullpen defense.
But this time, the bullpen could not protect the victory. In the first game on the 9th, starter Lim Chan-gyu allowed 6 hits (1 home run) and 4 runs (3 earned runs) in 5⅔ innings, and Jung Woo-young gave up 1 more run, losing 2-5. However, in the top of the 7th inning, they scored 4 runs with 2 walks and 3 hits, including Park Dong-won’s solo shot, and succeeded in turning the score around to 6-5. With the best bullpen behind them, it seemed like they would definitely win. Kim Jin-seong took the mound in the bottom of the 7th inning and pitched one inning without allowing any runs, leading to a natural victory formula. Yoo Young-chan came out in the bottom of the 8th inning, but expectations were different. With one out, Kim Sun-bin and Lee Woo-seong’s consecutive hits followed by pinch hitter Ko Jong-wook’s timely hit to right made the score 6-6. LG manager Yeom Gyeong-yeop put up a closer with Ko Woo-seok after catching Kim Tae-gun with a fly to left field, with 2 outs and runners on first and second base, but Park Chan-ho hit an RBI single and lost the game 6-7. In the top of the 9th inning, LG failed to target KIA’s closer Jeong Hae-young and lost the first game.
In the second game, LG quickly strengthened its bullpen as starter Son Joo-young gave up three runs in the bottom of the second inning with a 4-0 lead and was eliminated early. However, in the bottom of the 5th inning with a 5-3 lead, Lee Woo-chan and Park Myung-geun received criticism from KIA’s batting lineup. Five runs were scored, including pinch hitter Choi Hyung-woo’s grand slam. 5-8 in an instant. They made up for one run in the top of the 6th inning and trailed by 2 runs, but Oh Seok-ju, who came on the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning, scored another 4 points, breaking the score at 6-12.
On the 10th, Gyeonggi-do’s Choi Won-tae scored 7 points, making it a difficult game, but LG’s batting line caught up and tied the game at 7-7. However, they gave up the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning. After Jung Woo-young, who was replaced, allowed Park Chan-ho to hit and steal second base, Kim Jin-seong came up as a relief pitcher and was hit by Choi Won-jun with an RBI single to left. LG later failed to attack KIA’s bullpen and lost by 1 point.
LG, which had 1 win and 3 losses in this 4-game series, had starter Kim Yun-sik’s 1 win, and all 3 losses were recorded by the bullpen. Choi Won-tae, who is underperforming, can be given time to adjust by leaving his position to Lee Min-ho, who is showing good performance in the Futures League. However, the fact that LG’s bullpen is showing difficulties overall is raising concerns.
The good news is that LG is taking a break for three days. There is time for adjustments until the Changwon NC Dinos game on the 14th. Both pitchers and batters can treat minor injuries and replenish their stamina by getting enough rest. It can be said to be an appropriate rest in a situation where one may have a mental breakdown.