Seoul:The LG Twins triumphed in a tense Korea Baseball Organization wild card game against the Doosan Bears, securing a 4-1 victory. Manager Youm Kyoung-youb praised his relief pitchers for their crucial roles in the win.
According to Yonhap News Agency, starter Carlos Carrasco was instrumental, allowing just one run over six innings. However, it was the performances of left-handers Jon Kennedy and Lee Woo-chan that stood out. Kennedy entered in the seventh inning, managing to limit the Bears to one run despite a challenging situation. Lee then struck out two consecutive batters to end an eighth-inning threat, preserving the Twins' lead.
The Twins initially took the lead with a two-run homer by Austin Dean in the first inning, but failed to extend their score for several innings. This put the spotlight on the defensive efforts of Kennedy and Lee, whose performances were essential to the team's success.
Center fielder Park Hae-min also played a pivotal role with a critical catch in the seventh inning. His defensive skill prevented a potential lead change and kept the Bears' offense at bay. Park, known for his outstanding defensive abilities, positioned himself perfectly and made a running catch that turned what could have been a game-changing hit into a mere sacrifice fly.
The Bears' manager, Kim Won-hyong, expressed disappointment in his team's lack of offensive power and defensive errors, which contributed to their loss. Despite their efforts, the Bears allowed two more runs in the eighth inning, sealing their defeat.
Kim acknowledged the recurring mistakes and the missed opportunities to prevent runs, adding that the game was a source of embarrassment for him as a manager.