The variable is the weather.
The LG Twins won a thrilling 1-0 home game against the Samsung Lions in Game 3 of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League postseason playoff (PO, best-of-five) at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 17th.
The team lost the first and second games held in Daegu on Saturday and Sunday last week, facing two losses. It revived by garnering one valuable win on the brink of collapse. It had one win and two losses overall in the series.
Hong Chang-ki (right wing), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Austin Dean (first baseman), Kim Hyun-soo (left wing), Oh Ji-hwan (striker), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Park Hae-min (middle fielder), and Moon Sung-joo (designated hitter) were among the starting pitchers. Lim Chan-kyu was the starting pitcher.
Lim Chan-kyu allowed three hits, one walk, four strikeouts and no run in five ⅓ innings to secure the starting win. He was also named the Daily MVP. Then, Elijah Hernandez took the mound in relief and ended the game. In three ⅔ innings, he garnered two hits, one walk, five strikeouts and no run in the number of pitches he pitched.
In the batting lineup, Hong Chang-ki made one hit and one RBI from two times at bat, and Moon Sung-joo made two hits from three times at bat. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hong Chang-ki’s sacrifice fly with one out and runners on the first and third bases became the final hit.
After the game, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “We had a bloody fight. Lim Chan-gyu continued to show good performance in the post season this year, but he played his role perfectly as a starter again this time. Hernandez was also able to play baseball according to the scenario he thought he would play by taking charge of long innings. The two players were really good, so we won.”
In the semi-playoff against KT Wiz (best out of five), Lim Chan-gyu won the MVP of the series by posting two wins and an earned run average of 1.59 in two games, 11 ⅓ innings. He is continuing his role as an autumn man.
“I think he has developed into a player who will surely lead his career in the semi-playoffs,” Yeom said. “I think he has developed his routine by pitching design and how to play games by winning 10 games for two consecutive years (in the regular season). I look forward to next year.”
Will Hernandez be able to take the mound in the fourth game on Wednesday? “He won’t be able to make it tomorrow (April 18). It will rain tomorrow. I believe in that,” Yeom said with a smile. “That’s why I put my trust in the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for a long time today (April 17). I even considered the rain forecast before the game.”
A lot of rain is expected in the afternoon on Wednesday. Chances are growing that it will rain heavily. If the match is postponed, the fourth round will be held on Wednesday. “If we take another day off (due to the cancellation of rain), Hernandez will definitely come out (to the fourth round). I’m sorry, but this is the best card that we can win,” Yeom said. “I will make a decision after checking the training part, the player himself and his physical condition. If the fourth round is held tomorrow, Hernandez will take a rest.”
Hernández is pitching much stronger than during the regular season. “His pitches got better. He raises his arm, which was slightly lower, and he is showing more speed,” Yeom said. “Adding more curves is also beneficial,” adding, “I wanted to give Hernández just seven to nine innings, but I quickly replaced him. Actually, I hesitated a little bit there. I wanted to reduce the number of pitches, but I chose to replace him quickly because winning today is important.” 토토사이트
How will Son use it? “He will play in the fifth game. All the players including Lim Chan-kyu will be on standby on that day. We have until the fifth game,” Yeom said.
The team won, but its batters did not explode. “We failed to take advantage of the early chances, leading to a very stressful game. I hope you can hit what you failed to hit in the third round in the fourth round,” Yeom said.
It is encouraging to block Samsung’s batters, who scored 10 points each in the first and second games. “It is true that we changed the mood. Our players must have felt strongly that they can do it by winning today’s game. I think they will be able to concentrate more in the fourth game,” Yeom said.
As the starting pitcher of Game 4, LG predicted Detrick Ns and Samsung Denny Reyes. Ns is taking the mound in the playoffs for the first time, and Reyes started Game 1 on the 13th and won the game with three runs (one earned run) in six ⅔ innings.
“I hope he throws well because he took a good rest. Reyes is meeting in the series, so I think it will be easier for hitters to target,” Yeom said. “In the first game, the hitters went straight to the fielder and the game didn’t go well, but the batters’ timing was not bad.”
As it is Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a pitcher-friendly stadium, it was much easier to quell Samsung’s home runs. Samsung fired three cannons in the first game held in Daegu and five in the second game. “It is certainly in our favor. Yoon Jeong-bin’s hit must have passed through Daegu (the sixth inning),” Yeom said. “Diaz’s foul home run in the fourth inning was really scary.”
In last year’s playoff, the KT Wiz advanced to the Korean Series by reverse sweep with three wins after losing two to the NC Dinos. LG aims for the same miracle. “This time, we want to do it. This is the last wish of the year. If I go to the Korean Series, I will play with everything in the hands of the fans,” Yeom said. “I made a promise to my fans. I lacked a little bit this season, but I want to advance to the Korean Series with the players. It’s my wish to keep my promise.”
