The Samsung Lions capitalized on their chances to pull off a thrilling upset over the No. 1 team.
Samsung ended LG’s six-game winning streak with a 6-5 victory in the first game of a three-game midweek series at Lions Park in Daegu on Friday 꽁머니사이트.
An ace matchup between Plutko and Won Tae-in. It came down to the details.
After dominating through five innings, LG came unglued in the bottom of the sixth when two poor bunt defenses and an infield error allowed the tying run to score.
After two runs in the first inning, the pattern changed and Won Tae-in, who had a five-inning scoreless streak, pitched six innings of two-run ball to pick up his fifth win in 44 days.
At the plate, Ryu Ji-hyuk went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including the game-winning hit. Oh Jae-il drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run single. Right fielder Lee Sung-kyu, who came off the bench, saved the day with a crucial home run to end the tie in the seventh inning.
▶Two teams without their starting shortstop, ace matchup is the difference between them
Samsung started the game without Lee Jae-hyun and LG without their starting shortstop. Kim Dong-jin played shortstop in place of Lee Jae-hyun, who had a sore shoulder. Veteran Kim Min-sung was deployed at shortstop in place of Oh Ji-hwan, who had a bad thigh.
Samsung’s starting lineup was Kim Hyun-jun (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (center infielder), Koo Ja-uk (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Pirela (left fielder), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Kang Kang-ul (third baseman), Oh Jae-il (first baseman), and Kim Dong-jin (shortstop).
Shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, who was replaced after dislocating his left shoulder while fielding against SSG in Incheon on the 13th, was removed from the starting lineup due to inflammation, although it was not a major injury.
Before the game, Samsung manager Park Jin-man said, “He’s been training,” and added, “His defense is fine, but he seems to have a slight ringing in his hitting. If there’s no urgent situation, we’ll check it out today or tomorrow.” In preparation for Lee Jae-hyun’s absence, Kim Young-woong was called up before the game.
LG’s lineup was Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Kim Hyun-soo (designated hitter), Austin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Kim Min-sung (shortstop), Park Dong-won (second baseman), Lee Jae-won (left fielder), and Park Hae-min (center fielder).
LG manager Yeom Kyung-yup said before the game, “Oh Ji-hwan has a tightness in his right thigh. He will rest until tomorrow. There is no substitute appearance. He will rest unconditionally.” “He has micro-inflammation. It could be a month or two if he overexerts himself. It doesn’t feel good. We need to prevent it in advance.”
LG pitcher Adam Plutko came into the game on a lot of rest.
Plutko, who took a full day off during the All-Star break and made his first appearance of the second half against KT on the 25th, appeared against the KIA in Gwangju on August 8 due to cold and COVID-19 symptoms, but was declared a no-game after 1⅓ innings.
His first appearance since then. Before the game, LG manager Yoon Kyung-yeop explained that “a long rest will help,” adding, “He pitched the most in the first half and we were going to give him a break anyway, so we naturally had a rest period, and it was a good result because Lee Jung-yong and Lee Ji-gang pitched well during that period.”
True to Yeom’s word, Plutko cruised with his dominant pitching.
He started the first inning with a triple play on nine pitches. In the top of the second, he gave up back-to-back singles to Kang Min-ho Pirela, but retired the next three batters. He retired the next three batters in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
Took just 70 pitches through the fifth inning, giving up three hits and striking out six.
Ace performance. The LG bats came out firing on all cylinders against Samsung starter Won Tae-in from the first inning.
In the top of the first inning, they took advantage of Won’s fastball. Top hitter Hong Chang-ki led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Shin Min-jae. Kim Hyun-soo hit a leadoff single, becoming the sixth player in history to reach 100 hits in 14 consecutive seasons. Austin pushes Won Tae-in’s fastball over the right field wall for a two-run double to make it 2-0.
Won didn’t go down without a fight.
In the first inning, he recognized LG’s fastball strategy and changed the pattern from the second inning. Using his slider and changeup in the high zone, where the umpire’s hand often goes up, he kept the scoreless streak going from the second to the sixth inning. In six innings, he allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts on 102 pitches. Won picked up his fifth win of the season (6-2), his first in 44 days since July 2 against Hanwha.
The Samsung bats responded to Won, who hasn’t had much batting support this season.
They capitalized on their only big chance in the sixth inning with four runs.
Kim Dong-jin led off with a single. Two batters later, Kim drew a walk. A hit in front of the pitcher. Plutko should have been more aggressive in defense.
A close call. The tantalizing prospect led to the worst possible outcome.
With the bases loaded, Guzauk singled and the third baseman made a bad throw home to tie the game at 2-2. He struck out Pirela, but left the game after giving up a back-to-back RBI double to Ryu Ji-hyuk with the bases loaded. Plutko, who had pitched a perfect fifth inning, fell victim to two dropped bunts and an infield error. His third loss of the season (11 wins). The first win of the second half could wait.
With a 4-2 lead, Samsung replaced left fielder Pirela, who struck out with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, with Lee Sung-gyu to start the seventh inning. Lee Sung-kyu moved to right field and Kim Sung-yoon to left field to strengthen the defense.
The bench’s decision paid off for Shinhan.
The big crisis came in the seventh inning, right after Won Tae-in went down.
Woo Kyu-min reached 10 holds for the fourth consecutive season (12th all-time) to lead off the inning.
He brought up left-hander Lee Jae-ik, who aimed for the LG left field line, but faltered with three straight hits. Park Hae-min singled to right to put runners on first and second with one out.
The bases were then loaded. Shin Min-jae singled to right. Junjok Park Hae-min advanced to second. He stole third and raced home. Lee Sung-gyu, on a ground ball, hit into fielder’s choice, out to first baseman Kang Min-ho. The tag out. It was a celestial bodhisattva that prevented the tie.
With runners on second and third, Kim Tae-hoon struck out Kim Hyun-soo to end the inning.
Kim struck out the side in the eighth to preserve the one-run lead.
Samsung took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth when Oh Jae-il drove in a run with a two-out RBI single off LG’s Park Myung-geun, who was called up on the same day to pitch. LG cut the deficit to one run in the top of the ninth with a two-run double by Heo Do-hwan off Oh Seung-hwan, but couldn’t capitalize with runners on first and second.
Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan gave up two runs but preserved the one-run lead to earn his 18th save of the season.
After the thrilling come-from-behind victory, Samsung manager Park Jin-man said, “Won Tae-in overcame the shaky first inning and fulfilled his duties as a starter, setting the stage for the comeback. Ryu Ji-hyuk’s hit in the top of the sixth inning set the tone for the game, and we were able to keep the opposing batters at bay. However, there were times when we failed to execute our game plan and put ourselves in a difficult situation, and we will reflect on this and closely feedback internally. I am personally satisfied to show the home fans who filled the ballpark for the holidays an upset win against the No. 1 team, and we will show good performance tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.”