Seoul: The LG Twins narrowly defeated the Samsung Lions 1-0 in a critical Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason game on Thursday, keeping their championship hopes alive by avoiding elimination.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the game, held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, was a defensive showcase with Twins pitcher Im Chan-kyu and reliever Elieser Hernandez combining for a shutout against the Lions. The only run of the game came in the fifth inning when Hong Chang-ki hit a sacrifice fly, bringing a runner home. Despite the low score, the atmosphere was tense with a full house of 23,750 spectators witnessing the intense playoff battle.
The Twins’ victory cuts the Lions’ lead in the best-of-five series to 2-1. The Lions will have another opportunity to close out the series in Game 4, which is also scheduled to take place at Jamsil Stadium. The winner of this series will advance to face the top-seeded Kia Tigers in the Korean Series.
Twins’ manager Youm Kyoung-youb praised his pitchers for their
performance. Im Chan-kyu, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, and Hernandez, who covered the rest of the game, were crucial in keeping the Lions’ hitters at bay. The Lions, who had a strong offensive showing in the first two games of the series with eight home runs and 28 hits, were limited to just five hits in this game.
The game was not without its challenges for the Twins, who had multiple opportunities to extend their lead but failed to capitalize. The Lions’ defense, particularly their starter Hwang Dong-jae, skillfully navigated out of several tight spots, keeping the game within reach until the end.
For the upcoming Game 4, the Lions are set to start Denyi Reyes, who was victorious in Game 1 of the series. The Twins will counter with left-hander Dietrich Enns, hoping to extend their postseason journey and replicate the success of the 2015-16 Doosan Bears, the last team to win consecutive Korean Series titles.