The professional baseball LG Twins achieved victory in the opening game against the Lotte Giants.
LG significantly won 12-2 in the 2025 KBO League opening game held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 22nd. Moon Bo-kyung hit a two-run home run, Oh Ji-hwan launched a solo home run, and they totaled 15 hits.
LG's starting pitcher, Yoni Chirinos, became the winning pitcher with 5 hits allowed, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs over 6 innings. Chirinos, who recorded a total of 20 wins in the Major Leagues, successfully threw 103 pitches on this day and achieved a quality start and a successful KBO League debut. Kim Jin-sung pitched in the 7th, Park Myung-keun in the 8th, and Woo Gang-hoon in the 9th.
Lotte's starting pitcher Charlie Barnes struggled, allowing 8 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 7 earned runs over 3 innings (81 pitches) before he was pulled early.
Lotte had a starting lineup that included Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), RAY (left fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Yoo Gang-nam (catcher), and Park Seung-wook (shortstop). Son Ho-young, known as the 'trade boon' who was traded from LG to Lotte at the end of March last year and who had an impressive batting average of .318 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs, struggled with a batting average of .091 (2 hits in 22 at-bats) in the exhibition games and was moved down to 7th in the lineup.
LG had a starting lineup that included Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (left fielder), Austin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Song Chan-eui (designated hitter), Park Dong-won (catcher), Park Hae-min (center fielder), and Koo Bon-hyeok (second baseman). Right-handed batters Song Chan-eui and Koo Bon-hyeok were included in the lineup against left-handed Barnes.
LG scored the first point in the 1st inning, taking the early lead.
Leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki was out on a ground ball to the second baseman, but Kim Hyun-soo reached base with a double down the left field line. Austin then scored the first point with a double down the right field line that slipped past the first base.
Cleanup hitter Moon Bo-kyung hit a two-run home run over the right field wall on the third pitch slider with two strikes against Barnes. It was the first home run of the 2025 season. He did not miss the hanging pitch, and it was a strong hit that felt like a home run as soon as he made contact. The batted ball speed was 169.8 km/h, the launch angle was 25.7 degrees, and the distance was 128.2 m.
LG succeeded in a big scoring inning in the 3rd. Leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung reached base with a single to left, and Oh Ji-hwan made a surprise bunt single towards third base. After Song Chan-eui’s sacrifice bunt, it became 1 out with runners on 2nd and 3rd, and Park Dong-won walked to create a bases-loaded opportunity with 1 out.
Park Hae-min struck out looking on a full count against a high fastball. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, the 9th hitter Koo Bon-hyeok walked, making the score 4-0. A wild pitch from the pitcher allowed the runner on third to score, extending the lead to 5-0. With 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd, Hong Chang-ki hit a two-run double that bounced off the right-center fence, bringing the score to 7-0 as they seized control of the game.
Lotte, who missed a chance with runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out in the 2nd inning, rallied in the 4th. After 1 out, RAY hit a double to left-center, and Yoon Dong-hee and Jeon Jun-woo walked consecutively to grab a bases-loaded opportunity with 1 out. Son Ho-young, who struck out with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd in the 2nd inning, hit a timely single to left that slipped past the shortstop, and two runners crossed the plate. The score was now 7-2.
Then Yoo Gang-nam hit a single to right, creating another opportunity with 1 out and the bases loaded. However, Park Seung-wook struck out swinging, and Hwang Seong-bin was unable to continue the rally with a foul fly to the catcher.
LG scored additional points in the 4th and 5th innings due to consecutive errors by the Lotte defense. After the 4th, Lotte's starting pitcher Barnes was replaced by Kim Kang-hyun as the second pitcher. After 1 out in the 4th, Moon Bo-kyung reached base on an error by the first baseman. The first baseman failed to field a ground ball directly and let it slip into the outfield. In the at-bat for Oh Ji-hwan, the catcher made a fastball delivery to the second base. Oh Ji-hwan struck out, and with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd, Song Chan-eui hit a double to left that brought the runner home.
LG got a walk from Koo Bon-hyeok after 1 out in the 5th. Hong Chang-ki drew a walk against the new pitcher, left-handed Song Jae-young, making it 1st and 2nd. The second baseman Ko Seung-min, who fielded Kim Hyun-soo's ground ball, made a bad throw that went over the shortstop's head at 2nd base. The runner on 2nd rounded 3rd and came home to score. With 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd, Austin’s ground ball became a double play.
In the 8th, LG's leadoff hitter Oh Ji-hwan hit a solo home run against Lotte pitcher Kim Sang-soo. He struck on the first pitch fastball (143 km) for a home run of 115 m. The score became 10-2. Following that, Song Chan-eui and Park Dong-won hit consecutive singles, creating an opportunity with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd.
After pinch hitter Moon Jeong-bin struck out, substitute Shin Min-jae hit a timely single to right, adding 1 RBI. With 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd, Choi Won-young's sacrifice fly to right field made the score 12-2.
[OSEN]