▲ Austin Dean hitting a home run
Professional baseball team LG Twins laid the groundwork for a rebound by defeating the Kiwoom Heroes, powered by two home runs that blew away the sweltering heat.
LG, which had slipped to third place amid a downward trend since the second half of the season, secured a 5-3 comeback victory in a home game against Kiwoom for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul today (July 30).
Having suffered a heavy 11-18 defeat in a slugfest the previous day, LG had a shaky start by giving up 3 runs in the first inning of this match as well.
Trailing 0-3 through the fourth inning, LG began its chase with the long ball.
Austin Dean, second in the league in home runs, stepped up as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fourth inning and blasted a solo home run over the left-field wall against Kiwoom starting pitcher An Woo-jin, lifting the team's morale.
LG turned the game around in the bottom of the sixth inning when starting pitcher An Woo-jin showed signs of fatigue.
With no outs and runners on first and second following consecutive hits by Park Hae-min and Austin, Song Chan-eui exploded for a three-run homer to left field, instantly turning the score around to 4-3.
LG extended its lead by another run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With one out and a runner on second following Koo Bon-hyuk's single to center and Hong Chang-ki's infield grounder, Park Hae-min hit an RBI single to left-center, widening the gap to 5-3.
The turning point of the match was the eighth inning.
LG's third pitcher, Kim Jin-soo, yielded two hits and fell into a crisis with one out and runners on first and second.
However, relief pitcher Kim Jin-sung caught Im Byung-wook with a fly ball to right field, and closer Son Ju-young handled pinch hitter Choi Joo-hwan with an infield grounder, blocking the inning without conceding a run.
Son Ju-young came out again in the ninth to close out the game.
Austin shined with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, including his 31st home run of the season, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored, while Song Chan-eui contributed with 2 hits in 3 at-bats including the comeback home run, 1 hit-by-pitch, 3 RBIs, and 1 run scored.
LG starting pitcher Im Chan-kyu pitched 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch, and 4 strikeouts with 3 runs, marking his 10th win (4 losses) of the season and jumping to sole possession of first place in wins.
Kim Jin-sung recorded his 177th career hold, tying with Ahn Ji-man (retired) for the most holds in KBO League history.
(Photo provided by LG Twins, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.