The professional baseball LG Twins won thanks to Son Ju-yeong's impressive performance.
LG defeated the SSG Landers 3-2 in the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' match held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 23rd.
Starting pitcher Son Ju-yeong recorded 7 innings of 2 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, earning his 5th win of the season. The 11 strikeouts set a new personal record for most strikeouts in a single game. The previous record was 9 strikeouts recorded on Sept. 21, 2024, against Doosan at Jamsil. The bullpen, consisting of Kim Jin-sung (1 inning, no earned runs) and Park Myeong-geun (1 inning, 1 earned run), secured the team’s victory. Park Myeong-geun earned his 3rd save of the season.
LG lined up with Moon Sung-ju (designated hitter), Kim Hyun-soo (left fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Gu Bon-hyeok (third baseman), Song Chan-ui (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), and Lee Young-bin (second baseman). Austin hit his 14th home run of the season, and Park Hae-min contributed with 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk, and 2 stolen bases in 3 at-bats.
SSG started with Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Park Seong-han (shortstop), Choi Jeong (third baseman), Ko Myeong-jun (first baseman), Han Yoo-seom (designated hitter), Ahn Sang-hyun (second baseman), Jo Hyeong-woo (catcher), Oh Tae-gon (right fielder), and Chae Hyun-woo (left fielder). SSG's lineup struggled against the LG mound, managing only 2 hits until the 8th inning. They recorded 3 hits in the 9th, but failed to score enough to turn the game around.
Starting pitcher Mitch White pitched 6 innings with 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs, but he became the losing pitcher without support from the lineup. The bullpen, featuring Park Si-hoo (1⅓ innings, no earned runs), Kim Min (0 innings, 1 earned run), Choi Min-jun (⅔ innings, no earned runs), and Choi Hyun-seok (1 inning, no earned runs), minimized the scoring but could not prevent the team's defeat. SSG fell into a 2-game losing streak with this loss.
In the top of the first inning, LG's Kim Hyun-soo reached scoring position with a hit and a wild pitch after one out. However, Austin hit a grounder to shortstop, and Park Dong-won struck out, failing to capitalize on the opportunity to score with one out and a runner on second.
In the bottom of the first inning, SSG's leadoff hitter Choi Ji-hoon advanced to second base with a hit and a stolen base. Park Seong-han struck out, but Choi Jeong drew a walk to create a one-out, one and two-base opportunity. After Ko Myeong-jun's groundout, a wild pitch allowed SSG to score first. Ko Myeong-jun was caught out by a right fielder fly out, and Han Yoo-seom struck out, missing additional scoring chances.
In the top of the third inning, LG's leadoff hitter Park Hae-min hit a single, and Lee Young-bin drew a walk. Following a successful double steal, LG created a no-out, two and three-base opportunity. Moon Sung-ju made a groundout that drove in a run, and Kim Hyun-soo contributed a sacrifice fly to turn the game around. Austin was caught out by a second baseman fly out.
In the fifth inning with one out, LG's leadoff hitter Lee Young-bin reached base with a hit. Although Moon Sung-ju's ball was caught by pitcher White, an error allowed LG to create a one-out, one and two-base opportunity. Kim Hyun-soo advanced the runners with a groundout, setting up a two-out, two and three-base chance, but Austin was out with a grounder to second base.
In the seventh inning with one out, LG's Park Hae-min drew a walk, while Lee Young-bin struck out. Park Hae-min attempted to steal second base during Moon Sung-ju's at-bat, but an error on catcher Jo Hyeong-woo's throw allowed him to successfully advance to third. However, Moon Sung-ju was caught out by a right fielder fly out, resulting in no scoring. In the eighth inning with one out, Austin finally scored an insurance run with a solo home run.
Throughout the game, SSG struggled against LG starting pitcher Son Ju-yeong. Even after Son Ju-yeong exited, they were held scoreless by Kim Jin-sung in the 8th inning, failing to create significant opportunities. In the 9th inning, leadoff hitter Park Seong-han collected a hit off the new pitcher Park Myeong-geun, giving SSG a final chance. Choi Jeong struck out, but pinch hitter Shin Byeom-soo got a hit, creating a one-out, one and three-base opportunity. Ahn Sang-hyun struck out, and pinch hitter Jeong Jun-jae's check swing turned into a fortunate one-run hit. Pinch hitter Lee Ji-young grounded out to shortstop to end the game.
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