SSG outclasses LG in 1-2 battle for top spot

The SSG Landers made a fresh start to the second half. They earned a new win against the No. 1 LG Twins.

SSG won the ninth game of the season against LG 6-4 on April 21 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. The game was highlighted by a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams. SSG, which recently snapped a two-game losing streak, closed the gap on first-place LG to 1.5 games. LG has lost three straight games, including the first half of the season.

SSG’s Kim “Ace” Kwang-hyun and LG’s Casey “Ace” Kelly started the matchup.

The game was tense. The momentum didn’t shift easily in either side’s favor. In the top of the first inning, LG took the lead against Kim Kwang-hyun. Hong Chang-ki led off with an infield single to shortstop and moved to second on Park Hae-min’s grounder to first base. SSG was unfortunate to only get one out, as an error on a potentially game-tying play resulted in a double play. Kim Hyun-soo followed with a grounder to second, putting runners on second and third. But two outs later, the runs came. Austin Dean hit a pitch that landed in front of the left field fence, giving LG a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, SSG immediately tied the game. With one out, Ha Jae-hoon hit a two-run double over the left field fence. After recovering from a fractured finger, Ha hit a long ball in his first at-bat in his first game back. Kim Sung-hyun lined a ball straight to the third baseman, but with two outs, Kim Min-sik singled to center field. Kim tied the game at 1-1 with a single to left-center field off Kelly.

The two teams traded one run in the fourth inning. SSG struck first. In the top of the fourth inning, Ha Jae-hoon drew a walk with two outs. Ha had the audacity to steal second base. Two on, two out. SSG took the lead again when Kim Sung-hyun hit a single to left-center field.

Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, LG fought back. With two outs, Oh Ji-hwan drew a walk. He stole second, and Lee Jae-won followed with a single. The game was back to 2-2.

SSG scored three runs in the top of the fifth off Kelly. Choo Shin-soo drew a walk to load the bases. Choi Jung hit a key double over the left field fence to put SSG back in front. With two outs and two on, Choi took advantage of Kelly’s two-seam fastball for a two-run home run over the right field fence. SSG made it 5-2 as the center fielders settled down.

Then, this time, Kim Kwang-hyun faltered. In the bottom of the fifth inning, LG rallied. Hong Chang-ki singled to load the bases. Kim Hyun-soo and Austin followed with back-to-back singles, and LG scored two runs to put the pressure back on SSG.

SSG extended its lead in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Choi Ji-hoon drew a walk. Choi Jung followed with a double to right field, and Choi Ji-hoon, who was on first base, came home from second and third. SSG took a 6-4 lead.

SSG went into the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Ko Hyo-joon faced a runner on second and third, but reliever Moon Seung-won got Austin to fly out to center field to end the threat. In the bottom of the eighth, Moon Seung-won continued to pitch and got out of a bases-loaded jam.

Bottom of the ninth. SSG closer Seo Jin-yong took the mound. Seo was in trouble from the start as he gave up a leadoff single to Shin Min-jae. However, shortstop Park Sung-ho singled to get the first out. Park then induced a second baseman-to-first baseman double play to end the game. 파워볼게임