The LG Twins moved into second place with their fifth straight win.
LG, led by manager Yoon Kyung-yup, won its seventh game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League with a 7-5 victory over the SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Monday, extending its winning streak to five games and improving its record to 30-2-23 on the season.
With the win, LG became the third team in the entire league to reach the 30-win plateau this season, joining the Doosan Bears and Kia Tigers, while also knocking Doosan, which lost 3-12 to KT Wiz, out of third place and into second place. It’s the first time LG has been in second place since March 26, 63 days into the season.
Starter Dietrick Enns earned his fifth win of the season with a quality start (six innings or more and three earned runs or less), allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out nine in six innings. Choi Dong-hwan (one scoreless inning), Kim Yoo-young (⅔ scoreless inning), Park Myung-geun (⅓ scoreless inning), and Lee Woo-chan (⅓ scoreless inning) earned his 12th save of the season.
At the plate, leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki pounded out four hits, including a home run, while Koo Bon-hyuk also contributed with a game-winning three-run homer. Veteran outfielder Kim Hyun-soo also did his part, reaching base three times, including one hit.
With the score tied at 0-0 in the top of the second inning, LG took the lead with a three-run home run by Hong Chang-ki, and in the top of the third inning, Koo Bon-hyeok hit a three-run home run and Hong Chang-ki hit an RBI single. The gap between the two teams widened to seven runs.
After receiving run support from their bats early in the game, the starting Enns gave up RBI singles to Choi Ji-hoon and Guillermo Heredia in the bottom of the third inning, but settled down in the top of the fourth. He stayed on the mound until the bottom of the sixth inning without allowing another run, fulfilling his role as a starter.
In the bottom of the ninth, Yoo Young-chan came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out and gave up an RBI single to Choi Jun-woo after Kim Min-sik’s infield fly to shortstop, but induced a swinging strikeout of Choi Ji-hoon at second base to end the game.
After the game, Yeom said, “Before the game, our pitching coach and power 토토 analysis team suggested that we use the high zone a lot in today’s game, and Enns executed well. We are looking forward to the next game as we showed good pitching,” said Yoon.
“It was a disappointing game as the chasers gave up runs in easy situations, but the winning group of Park Myung-geun, Choi Dong-hwan, and Yoo Young-chan took charge of their innings and were able to win the game,” he added.
He didn’t forget to mention the batters. “I wanted the bats to play more big-ball baseball in away games, but today’s game showed the fans big-ball baseball with Hong Chang-ki and Koo Bon-hyuk’s three-run home runs, and I hope to see more games like this in the future. Overall, I would like to praise Hong Chang-ki for his good performance at the plate with four RBIs.”
“We were able to continue our winning streak thanks to the fans who traveled to Incheon on a weekday to support us. We are grateful to them.”
LG, meanwhile, will start Im Chan-kyu in Game 29 as they look to secure a seventh straight win and a sweep of the series. SSG’s starting pitcher will be Song Young-jin.