LG Twins outfielder Park Dong-won helped the Twins win Game 2 of the Korean Series in a thriller that will go down in history. Not only did he hit the game-winning home run, but he also secured the victory with a steady lead in the final inning.
LG defeated KT Wiz 8-7 in Game 3 of the best-of-seven 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason Korean Series (best-of-five, KT-LG) at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Tuesday. It was an epic drama that surpassed the 5-4 comeback win in Game 2 on April 8.
Park Dong-won started as the No. 7 hitter and catcher on the day and went 1-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, one run scored and one walk. It was another dominant performance following his game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 2 on April 8.
Park took down KT pitcher Son Dong-hyun with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning when LG was down 3-4. In a two-ball, one-strike at-bat, he took Son’s four-pitch 145-kilometer fastball with perfect timing and sent it over the left field fence for a 125-meter shot.
LG responded with a two-run homer by Park Dong-won to make it 5-4. Although they gave up three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 5-7, LG never gave up.
In the top of the ninth inning, LG fostered one last glimmer of hope as leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki singled and two batters later, Austin walked to load the bases. Captain Oh Ji-hwan then hit a game-winning three-run home run to cut the deficit to 8-7.
There were numerous twists and turns before LG’s Game 3 victory was finalized. In the bottom of the ninth, Go Woo-seok struck out KT leadoff hitter Anthony Alford on a wild pitch, but one out later, he walked Kim Jun-tae on a pitch to the body.
Go Woo-seok then gave up a single to left to pinch-hitter Jung Jun-young, putting runners at first and second. LG left fielder Moon Sung-joo tried to make a sliding catch, but the ball slipped in and out of his glove.
The LG bench decided to change pitchers to Lee Jung-yong, but the situation worsened as Lee’s changeup became a wild pitch when he batted in his assigned spot.
LG’s bench called for an automatic walk to Byeong-dae, who was at the peak of his hitting form in the third inning with two hits and two walks. With the bases loaded, Lee Jung-yong and Park Dong-won were left to their fate. 무지개토토
Park called for a fastball from Lee, and the ball left Lee’s hand and sailed right through the outside strike zone of KT’s Kim Sang-soo to get a favorable count.
Park chose Lee’s primary weapon, a slider, for the first strike. Lee’s second pitch, a 130-kilometer slider, landed sharply outside the zone.
Kim swung at it, but the ball rolled toward the pitcher. Lee calmly picked up the ball and slammed it home, completing the 1-2-3 double play of pitcher-catcher-first baseman to end the long game.
No Responses