Professional baseball team LG Twins fell into the depths of a four-game losing streak along with the shock of a comeback loss.
LG, which has been in a downward trend, dropped to 3rd place for the first time this season. They have fallen 3.5 games behind the leader, Hanwha Eagles, and have also given up 2nd place to KIA Tigers.
LG suffered a comeback loss of 6-7 against Samsung Lions on May 5. They have lost four straight games and fallen from 2nd to 3rd place.
It was a game that LG should have won in the starting matchup. LG had their ace, Chirinus, while Samsung had Yang Chang-seob as a substitute starter after Won Tae-in went on the injured list. However, Chirinus faltered in the 5th and 6th innings and did not capitalize on the starter matchup. The three-member bullpen of Kim Jin-sung, Jang Hyun-sik, and Lee Jeong-yong allowed runs in succession, losing the bullpen battle.
In the 1st inning, LG created a bases-loaded opportunity with consecutive hits from Shin Min-jae and Cheon Seong-ho, along with a walk from Kim Hyun-soo. Although Moon Bo-gyeong produced the first run with a ground ball to second base, Park Dong-won failed to add another run with a ground ball double play to the third baseman. It was ominous that the middle lineup failed to score heavily with a bases-loaded chance.
In the 3rd inning, after leadoff hitter Shin Min-jae hit a single, he successfully stole second base. With two outs and a runner on third, Moon Bo-gyeong's hit brought LG ahead 2-0. In the 5th inning, Shin Min-jae reached base with a leadoff hit and successfully stole second base again. With one out and a runner on second, Kim Hyun-soo's hit extended the lead to 3-0.
However, starter Chirinus faced a bases-loaded crisis in the 5th inning with a hit and two walks. He allowed back-to-back RBI hits to Ryu Ji-hyeok and Kim Tae-hoon, cutting the lead to 3-2. With no outs and the bases loaded, he managed to get Kang Min-ho into a double play and Kim Ji-chan out on a ground ball to first base, keeping the lead intact.
However, Chirinus was replaced after Ryu Ji-hyeok's ground ball error by the shortstop and a double from Gu Ja-wook led to a crisis with runners on second and third with one out in the 6th inning. He was substituted with Kim Jin-sung, who allowed Ryu Ji-hyeok to hit a two-RBI double to right-center with two outs, allowing a 3-5 lead change.
In the 7th inning, LG seized a bases-loaded opportunity through a rival error and two walks after a sacrifice bunt. Moon Bo-gyeong and Park Dong-won earned consecutive walks, making it 5-5. However, in the continued one out and bases-loaded situation, Oh Ji-hwan struck out, and Ham Chang-geun also struck out, failing to take the lead. They could not maintain the momentum.
In the 7th inning, the crucial pitcher Jang Hyun-sik took the mound and allowed a solo home run to leadoff hitter Kang Min-ho, putting LG behind 5-6. LG tied the game at 6-6 in the 8th inning with Shin Min-jae's double to right-center with one out and a runner on second. Gu Bon-hyeok struck out, and Kim Hyun-soo was out on a ground ball to first base, failing to take the lead again.
In the 8th inning, crucial pitcher Lee Jeong-yong took the mound and created a bases-loaded crisis with one out after a hit and two walks. They replaced the pitcher with Yoo Young-chan. Yoo Young-chan struck out Kang Min-ho but allowed an RBI hit to Kim Ji-chan, making it 6-7.
By May 31, LG was in first place with a record of 35 wins, 21 losses, and 1 tie (winning percentage .625). However, since June, the middle lineup, hitting 3rd to 5th, has been equally sluggish, leading to a decline. Their performance after June is 10 wins and 16 losses, 1 tie (winning percentage .385), ranking 9th among the 10 teams. During this period, Doosan has the lowest winning percentage with 10 wins and 17 losses (winning percentage .370). LG managed to avoid the dishonor of being in 10th place, just half a game ahead of Doosan.
In their previous 5 games (1 win, 4 losses), LG scored only 2, 3, 2, 0, and 1 runs. In the game against Samsung on May 5, the lineup finally came alive, scoring 6 runs, but the ace and the bullpen collapsed. Their record in the last 7 games stands at 1 win and 6 losses. Foreign hitter Austin is out due to a sports hernia injury. The rehabilitation period is expected to take about 3 to 4 weeks. This marks the worst performance before the All-Star break.
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