Home runs from Austin Dean and Park Dong-won, and a stellar relief performance from Son Yu-young helped the LG Twins defeat the KT Wiz 6-5. The win gives the Twins a 2-1 series advantage in the best-of-five series, leaving them just one win away from advancing to the second round of the KBO playoffs.
박동원의 홈런시계가 작동됩니다 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
채이야 !!! 아빠 홈런 쳤어 !!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/74PfKz9QW7— 두루미 (@lgtwins_1994) October 8, 2024
The Twins appeared to have their hands full, with Wiz starter Wes Benjamin taking the hill. The crafty left-hander was coming off a dominant start against the Doosan Bears in which he tossed seven shutout innings, but it became clear early on that he wasn’t nearly as sharp. Park got the Twins on the board with a solo shot in the second, and Hong Chang-ki added one more with an RBI double in the third to give LG a 2-1 lead.
손주영 4.1이닝 아웃카운트 13개중에 삼진만 6개 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
이 기특한 고구마투수 어쩔거야 !!!!!! 🍠🍠🍠 pic.twitter.com/el2dW5Vnf2
— 두루미 (@lgtwins_1994) October 8, 2024
The Wiz, however, would answer back in the very next inning, tying the game on an Oh Jae-il sacrifice fly. Hwang Jae-gyun followed with a single, which marked the end of the day for Twins starter Choi Wang-tae. Son would enter in relief, and though he allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced, he would be simply unhittable from there. The 25-year-old left-hander, who was moved to the bullpen for the postseason after making 27 starts during the regular season, would allow just one baserunner over his final five innings, striking out seven Wiz hitters in the process.
시바발ㄹㄹㄹㄹㄹㄹㄹㄹ 오스틴 ㅜㅜㅜㅜ 역전 쓰리런 ‘ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ pic.twitter.com/vuMMDBBpZC
— 두루미 (@lgtwins_1994) October 8, 2024
While Choi was shutting down the Wiz bats, the Twins offense would pounce on Benjamin. As he did all regular season, Dean delivered the big blow, launching a three-run home run in the fifth to give the Twins a 5-3 lead. Hong Chang-ki would tack on one more in the sixth on a sacrifice lead, giving the LG a 6-3 lead that would hold all the way to the ninth.
Needing just three outs to take a 2-1 series lead, the Twins would turn to closer You Young-chan, who saved 26 games during the regular season. Yet when Bae Jong-dae brought the Wiz within one on a two-run homer, manager Youm Kyoung-youb made the bold decision to pull his star fireman in favor of starter Elieser Hernandez. The veteran right-hander would reward his manager’s faith, as he needed just four pitches to retire the final two batters and secure the 6-5 victory.
준플레이오프 3차전 승리 ‼️‼️‼️
100% 확률을 가지고 다음경기로 갑니다 🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/5CKMcfW0ri
— 두루미 (@lgtwins_1994) October 8, 2024
The Twins now need just one game win over the next two games to secure a spot in the second round against the Samsung Lions. They will look to get that win in Game Four with ace Dietrich Enns, who will take the ball on three days rest after allowing three runs in 5 ⅓ innings in the series opener. The Wiz, meanwhile, will counter with their ace William Cuevas, who added to his impressive postseason resume with six shutout innings in the opening round against the Doosan Bears. The first pitch from Jasmil Baseball Stadium will be Wednesday at 5:30 EST.
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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Austin Dean #23 of LG Twins at bat in the 4th inning during the exhibition game between San Diego Padres and LG Twins at Gocheok Sky Dome on March 18, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
