The LG Twins rallied from behind to win the ‘El Loco Rico’ rivalry matchup against the Lotte Giants despite a virtual ‘bullpen day’.
The LG Twins completed their ‘El Loco Rivalry’ rivalry series with a thrilling 7-3 come-from-behind victory over the Lotte Giants in the ninth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Friday.
On the day, LG started with Lee Jung-yong, who threw 49 pitches in two innings and allowed one run (one earned) on three hits and one walk, followed by Choi Dong-hwan, who gave up two runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks in ⅓ of an inning, and Jung Woo-young, who gave up one run on one hit in ⅔ of an inning. However, Lee Woo-chan (1 inning), Ham Deok-joo (2 innings), Park Myung-geun (1 inning), Kim Jin-sung (1 inning), and Ko Woo-seok (1 inning) pitched solid innings of scoreless relief to secure the win온라인바카라.
At the plate, Moon Sung-joo went 5-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs, and two runs scored, while Kim Hyun-soo also went 5-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs. In the bottom of the order, Shin Min-jae went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, and Hong Chang-ki went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Unlike the previous day (April 24), Lotte took the early lead in the game. After failing to capitalize on scoring chances with runners on first and second in the first inning and first and second in the second inning, Lotte had a chance to load the bases in the top of the third inning when leadoff hitter Hwang Sung-bin walked, Yoon Dong-hee singled, and Ko Seung-min drew a walk. Hwang Sung-bin was then thrown out at home on Jack Rex’s grounder to third, but the next batter, Ahn Chi-hong, was able to get the ball to the right side of the infield for the 1-0 lead.
Lotte piled on a few more runs, though not generously. After Han Dong-hee struck out in the next at-bat, Park Seung-wook took advantage of a seven-pitch, 150-kilometer two-seam fastball from LG reliever Jung Woo-young and lined it into the left-field corner. He then raced home with runners on third and second to extend the lead to 3-0. However, they were unable to add to their lead.
LG pulled away in the middle of the game. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Heo Do-hwan drew a walk against Lotte starter Dan Stratley to start the inning, and Shin Min-jae followed with an RBI single to left field. LG brought in Jung Joo-hyun to pinch-hit for Heo Do-hwan, and with the bases loaded after Hong Chang-gi walked, Moon Sung-joo’s grounder to the second baseman brought home the runner from third to pull within one run.
However, LG’s lead was short-lived. With runners on first and third, Kim Hyun-soo hit a hard line drive to right field, but the ball was hit straight down the line and the runner at third couldn’t make the tag up in time. Then, with runners on first and third, LG’s Moon Sung-joo tried to steal second base, but was automatically tagged out by Lotte catcher Son Sung-bin’s laser throw.
After missing a golden opportunity, LG finally tied the game late in the game. In the bottom of the seventh, leadoff hitter Shin Min-jae led off with a walk and stole second base on a throwing error by Lotte’s Kim Sang-soo. Moon Sung-joo then took advantage of Kim Sang-soo’s six-pitch 130-kilometer forkball for an RBI triple to right field to put Lotte on the ropes, and Kim Hyun-soo followed with an RBI single off reliever Koo Seung-min to tie the game at 3-3.
The game was decided in the bottom of the eighth inning. LG started with a leadoff single by Moon Bo-kyung, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Park Hae-min and a walk by Park Dong-won to put runners on first and second. However, the next batter, Shin Min-jae, hit a grounder to the shortstop to end the inning, but there was an unexpected twist.
Lotte shortstop Park Seung-wook, who caught Shin Min-jae’s hit, threw the ball to second baseman Ahn Chi-hong, but the ball went in a different direction than he intended, and Ahn, who was tangled up in the staff, fell to the ground, allowing Moon Bo-kyung, who was on second base, to rush home to make it 4-3. LG continued to rally, with Hong Chang-ki drawing a walk off Lotte’s “closer” Kim Won-joong, Moon Sung-joo doubling with the bases loaded, and Kim Hyun-soo hitting a wedge single.
With the lead now at 7-3, LG brought in closer Go Woo-seok in the top of the ninth and held on for the win.