Cheon Seong-ho struck decisively against his former team in his LG Twins debut.

The professional baseball LG Twins achieved a 4-3 comeback victory against the KT Wiz in the 7th match of the season held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 26th.

LG recorded 43 wins, 2 draws, and 31 losses this season, avenging their defeat on the 24th. Conversely, KT's winning streak was interrupted, bringing their record to 38 wins, 3 draws, and 36 losses.

The home team KT constructed their starting lineup against LG starter Im Chan-kyu with Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Lee Jeong-hoon (designated hitter), Heo Gyeong-min (third baseman), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop).

In response, LG lined up against KT starter So Hyeong-jun with Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Kim Hyun-soo (left fielder), Moon Sung-ju (right fielder), Moon Bo-gyeong (third baseman), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Park Dong-won (catcher), Cheon Seong-ho (first baseman), Gu Bon-hyeok (shortstop), Park Hae-min (center fielder).

Cheon Seong-ho, who was traded the previous day, made his first start against his former team, while Austin Dean, who had a batting average of .138 in his last 10 games, was dropped from third to fifth in the lineup. LG manager Youm Kyoung-youb noted, "I had Austin drop in the lineup to let him hit more comfortably."

KT seized the first scoring opportunity from the bottom of the first inning. After one out, Kim Sang-su hit a ball that just cleared the glove of third baseman Moon Bo-gyeong and dashed to second base for a double. Ahn Hyun-min followed with a single to left field, creating runners on first and third with one out. However, Jang Seong-woo grounded into a double play to second and first base, ending the inning without scoring.

LG was disappointed with their missed chance in the top of the third inning. After one out, Park Hae-min reached second base on a walk and a wild pitch, while Kim Hyun-soo walked, putting runners on second and first with two outs, but Moon Sung-ju grounded out to first base to end the inning.

The first score went to KT. In the top of the fourth, lead-off hitter Kim Sang-su drew a walk. After Ahn Hyun-min flied out to the shortstop, Jang Seong-woo broke the scoreless tie with a home run. He hit a slider (129 km/h) from Im Chan-kyu’s first pitch for a left-field home run with a distance of 112.2 meters. This was his seventh home run of the season, coming after seven games since the match against the Daegu Samsung Lions on the 15th.

KT continued their scoring opportunity with consecutive hits from Lee Jeong-hoon and Heo Gyeong-min, but Moon Sang-cheol’s hit resulted in a force out at third, and Bae Jeong-dae grounded out to the third baseman.

LG struck back in the top of the fifth inning. After two outs, they showcased impressive focus. Park Hae-min created a scoring chance with a single to right field and a stolen base, while Shin Min-jae hit a one-run single to left field, followed by Kim Hyun-soo’s double that fell into the warning track in right center field, each earning one run. The game reset to 2-2.

The turning point came at the bottom of the seventh. After one out, Bae Jeong-dae walked after the eighth pitch, and Kwon Dong-jin hit a single to right field, placing runners on first and third. Jang Jin-hyeok then came in and calmly hit a ground ball to the second baseman, helping Bae Jeong-dae score.

LG did not step back. Leading off the ninth inning, Cheon Seong-ho revitalized the pursuit with a double, hitting the right-center fence against his former team. Following this, Gu Bon-hyeok executed a sacrifice bunt, and Park Hae-min’s hit by pitch and a stolen base put runners on second and third with one out, allowing Cheon Seong-ho to score the tying run on a wild pitch.

LG did not stop there, as they sealed the win with a one-run single from Shin Min-jae.

LG starter Im Chan-kyu had a line of 5 innings, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 runs, with 90 pitches, ending without a decision. Following him were Park Myeong-geun (1 inning, no runs), Lee Ji-kang (⅔ inning, 1 run), Kim Jin-sung (⅓ inning, no runs), Lee Jeong-yong (1 inning, no runs), and Yoo Young-chan (1 inning, no runs). Lee Jeong-yong got his first win after his military discharge, and Yoo Young-chan achieved his second save of the season.

In the batting lineup, Shin Min-jae contributed 2 hits, 2 runs batted in, and 1 run scored on 5 at-bats (including the game-winning hit), Kim Hyun-soo recorded 2 hits and 1 run batted in on 4 at-bats, and Park Hae-min went 2 for 2 with 2 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored, leading to the comeback victory. Cheon Seong-ho's double and tying run were also crucial.

KT starter So Hyeong-jun pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 runs with 94 pitches, but he did not get the win. Following him were Jeon Yong-joo (1 inning, no runs), Woo Kyu-min (⅔ inning, no runs), and Park Young-hyun (1 inning, 2 runs), with Park Young-hyun being the losing pitcher. Jang Seong-woo's home run was part of a 2-hit, 2-run, 1-scored performance, which went unnoticed.

LG will face the KIA Tigers at home in a weekend three-game series starting on the 27th. KT will move to Busan to meet the Lotte Giants.

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