Can they overcome the nightmare of three consecutive walk-off losses?
The professional baseball team LG Twins play the final game of a three-game series against the KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 30th.
LG suffered three consecutive walk-off losses recently. After the July 26 game against Doosan in Jamsil, they suffered walk-off losses in the 10th inning in extra innings on July 28 and 29 in Suwon against KT on consecutive days. Falling into a three-game losing streak, LG fell 2.5 games behind first-place KT and are tied with the SSG Landers for second place.
LG will field Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Cheon Seong-ho (third baseman), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Bo-gyeong (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), Gu Bon-hyeok (shortstop) and Lee Young-bin (second baseman) in the starting lineup.
Starting shortstop Oh Ji-hwan was excluded from the lineup. He has a lingering injury. The day before, Oh Ji-hwan was replaced in the sixth inning for player protection due to discomfort in a gluteal muscle during the game. His condition has not yet recovered, so he will be on the bench. Shin Min-jae, who has been struggling at the plate, was also left out of the starting lineup. Lee Young-bin will play second base. Gu Bon-hyeok and Lee Young-bin, the backups, will form the keystone combination.
LG's starting pitcher is Im Chan-kyu. He has a 1-1 record and a 5.40 earned run average in five games this season. Against KT this season, he made one appearance and allowed three runs in five innings. On the 24th against Doosan, he recorded his first win of the season with 5 2/3 innings and one run allowed.
Bullpen management will be crucial again. LG's four late-inning relievers — Jang Hyun-sik, Kim Young-woo, Kim Jin-sung and Woo Kang-hoon — all pitched on consecutive days twice. Manager Youm Kyoung-youb is not letting relievers pitch three days in a row.
Woo Kang-hoon (21 pitches–28 pitches) and Jang Hyun-sik (15 pitches–35 pitches) cannot pitch three days in a row. Kim Jin-sung (23 pitches–8 pitches) and Kim Young-woo (20 pitches–6 pitches) had low pitch counts on the 29th, but three consecutive days of pitching will be difficult. Aside from them, the bullpen includes Ham Deok-ju, Kim Yu-yeong, Kim Jin-su, Park Si-won, Jo Geon-hee and Kim Dong-hyun.<
[OSEN]