Seoul: For the second time in less than a week, right-handed pitcher Im Chan-kyu emerged as the hero for the LG Twins, delivering a crucial performance to save the team’s season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) playoffs. On Thursday, Im pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, leading the Twins to a narrow 1-0 victory over the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the win came at a critical moment for the Twins, who had lost the first two games of the best-of-five series against the Lions. Im’s stellar performance on the mound helped force a Game 4, giving the Twins, who are the defending Korean Series champions, a chance to continue their quest for back-to-back titles.
This is not the first time this postseason that Im has come through for the Twins under pressure. Last Friday, in another elimination scenario against the KT Wiz, Im pitched six innings, allowing just one run and striking out four, which contributed significantly to the Twins’ series victory. Earlier in t
hat series, Im had secured a win in Game 2 after holding the Wiz to one earned run over 5 1/3 innings, rebounding after a series-opening loss.
During Thursday’s game, Im faced several challenging moments, including a near home run by the Lions’ Lewin Diaz, which hooked just foul. Despite allowing a few hits, Im managed to maintain composure and keep the Lions scoreless. The Twins’ only run came in the bottom of the fifth inning from Hong Chang-ki’s sacrifice fly, which ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Reliever Elieser Hernandez took over from Im in the sixth inning, completing the game with a rare 11-out save. Hernandez’s performance included striking out the side in the ninth inning, showcasing a fastball that reached 151 kilometers per hour.
The Twins’ ability to fend off elimination and extend the series highlights the resilience and skill of their pitching staff, particularly the contributions of Im Chan-kyu in critical moments. The team now looks forward to continuing their defense of the Kore
an Series title in Game 4 back at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.