'Defending champion' LG Twins smiled after a slugfest. LG narrowly beat the Samsung Lions 14-13 in an exhibition game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 22nd.
LG set its starting lineup as right fielder Hong Chang-gi, center fielder Park Hae-min, left fielder Moon Sung-ju, first baseman Austin Dean, designated hitter Park Dong-won, shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, third baseman Gu Bon-hyeok, second baseman Cheon Seong-ho and catcher Lee Ju-heon. The starting pitcher was Im Chan-kyu.
Samsung, starting Choi Won-tae as its starting pitcher, set the batting order as shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, right fielder Kim Seong-yun, left fielder Gu Ja-wook, first baseman Lewin Diaz, designated hitter Choi Hyung-woo, third baseman Kim Young-ung, catcher Park Se-hyuk, second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk and center fielder Kim Ji-chan.
The first run belonged to LG. In the top of the first with two outs and runners on first and second, Park Dong-won, Oh Ji-hwan and Gu Bon-hyeok hit consecutive run-scoring hits to drive in three runs. In the second, after one out Hong Chang-gi reached on a hit and advanced to second on a wild pitch by the opponent. Park Hae-min added one with a double. In the third, Park Dong-won and Oh Ji-hwan hit doubles to add one more, and Gu Bon-hyeok's single to center brought home Oh Ji-hwan from second. 6-0.
Samsung mounted a counterattack. In the third, Ryu Ji-hyuk, Lee Jae-hyun and Kim Seong-yun had hits to load the bases. Gu Ja-wook hit a double to left field to drive in two runs. On 2-3 with runners, Diaz hit a single to center to bring in Kim Seong-yun from third. In the fourth, LG added one on Moon Sung-ju's walk and Austin's double to center, and in the fifth the leadoff hitter Lee Ju-heon hit a solo homer to left field.
Samsung also began to chase. In the bottom of the fifth, Kim Ji-chan, Lee Jae-hyun, Kim Seong-yun and Gu Ja-wook hit consecutive singles to chase two runs. Soon after, Diaz's infield grounder narrowed the gap to 6-8. LG loaded the bases in the seventh with two hits and a walk. Lee Young-bin's hit drove in two runs. Soon after, Ham Chang-geun hit an RBI double. On 2-3, Kang Min-gyun drove in two with an RBI to complete a five-run big inning. In the eighth, Song Chan-ui's sacrifice fly added one more.
Samsung had a bases-loaded, no-out chance in the ninth. Jeon Byung-woo and Hong Seung-won's bases-loaded walks, Ryu Ji-hyuk's hit to center-left, Kim Ji-chan's sacrifice fly and Lee Hae-seung's three-run shot produced a seven-run big inning, but no dramatic finish ensued.
Samsung starter Choi Won-tae struggled, allowing six runs on three innings with 10 hits, one walk and four strikeouts. Standouts included Gu Ja-wook (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 3 RBIs), Lee Jae-hyun (4 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 runs), Kim Seong-yun (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 runs) and Ryu Ji-hyuk (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 run).
LG starter Im Chan-kyu also fell short of expectations. He lasted four innings, giving up six runs on nine hits with one strikeout. Notably, he issued no walks. Catcher Lee Ju-heon showed a hot bat with a homer among 4 at-bats, 3 hits, 1 RBI and 2 runs. Oh Ji-hwan (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Gu Bon-hyeok (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 RBIs) and Park Dong-won (3 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 run) provided firepower support.
Former hold king Jung Woo-young and the "5.2 billion won" free agent Jang Hyun-sik conceded seven runs in the ninth while leading 14-6, leaving a disappointing finish.
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