Professional baseball team LG Twins begins a crucial nine-game stretch amid a crisis. It is noteworthy whether fifth starter Song Seung-ki will save the team from the crisis once again.
LG will face the Hanwha Eagles on the 29th at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park. Although LG is in first place, the dominance of being the 'absolute powerhouse' is diminishing. They are currently on a downward trend with two consecutive losses, two consecutive losing series, and a record of 4 wins and 6 losses in the last 10 games. In contrast, Hanwha is experiencing a rise with 8 wins and 2 losses recently.
LG will have fifth starter Song Seung-ki on the mound. Hanwha will be starting their foreign pitcher, Wise. Song Seung-ki is under pressure to break the losing streak as he takes the mound.
The situation is similar to his last appearance. On the 23rd, Song Seung-ki faced foreign pitcher Logan Allen of the NC Dinos in a starting matchup. LG suffered a loss in extra innings against NC on the 22nd, marking the team's first two-game losing streak of the season.
The matchup features a fifth starter against a first starter. Song Seung-ki became the winning pitcher after holding the NC lineup to no hits over 6 innings, allowing 3 walks and recording 7 strikeouts. Despite pitching a no-hitter, he was replaced in the 7th inning, having thrown 94 pitches while leading 1-0. Logan pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing 1 run to take the loss. LG won the game 3-0, ending the losing streak, with Song Seung-ki's scoreless performance being a key contribution.
Song Seung-ki, who was discharged from the military last year, was selected as the fifth starter through the finishing camp and spring camp. He accumulated starting experience while in the military and achieved good results, winning the titles of most wins, earned run average, and strikeouts.
LG planned to fill the fifth starter position with young starters, including the return of Song Seung-ki. Strengthening the bullpen was the top priority in the free agent market, and they did not retain starter Choi Won-tae, who applied for free agency.
Choi Won-tae, who left for Samsung with a four-year contract worth 7 billion won, has recorded 3 wins and 1 loss with an earned run average of 5.84 in 5 games (24⅔ innings) this season. Filling the void left by Choi Won-tae, Song Seung-ki has recorded 2 wins and 1 loss with an earned run average of 2.51 in 5 games (28⅔ innings), with a batting average against of .176 and a WHIP of 1.05. So far, Choi Won-tae's absence has not been felt at all. Song Seung-ki has been performing much better than expected in the early part of the season. With foreign pitcher Hernandez sidelined due to injury, Song Seung-ki's presence has become even more significant.
Notably, he faced Hanwha's Moon Dong-joo, KIA's Yang Hyun-jong, Doosan's Choi Won-jun, Samsung's Won Tae-in, and NC's Logan in succession, with the team recording 4 wins and 1 loss. Song Seung-ki was the losing pitcher against Samsung, allowing 4 runs over 4⅔ innings.
After the loss against Samsung, Song Seung-ki noted, "I was very angry at myself about the game result. I was also very upset about the mistakes and the stolen bases, which continued to stress me out." He added, "To control the runners, I practiced quick motion advice with (Son) Joo-young and the coaches, focusing on pickoff practice for about 30 minutes." He expressed his competitive spirit, stating, "When I pitch as a starter, I don't have any particular greed. I focus on each batter every inning and think only to get through the inning." It remains to be seen whether he will save the team once again from the losing streak.
[OSEN]