The LG Twins have won their final game of the 2023 regular season with the ‘regular season championship trophy’ in front of them.
LG defeated the Doosan Bears 5-2 in a home game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Friday.
On March 3, LG clinched the regular season title for the first time in 29 years since 1994, and the KBO decided to present the regular season championship trophy after LG’s final game of the regular season on the 15th.
Although LG’s win or loss had no effect on the standings, LG fans packed Jamsil Stadium to watch the ‘Regular Season Championship Trophy Presentation Ceremony’. With 23,750 fans in attendance, LG reached the 1.2 million attendance mark for the first time in 13 years (1,222,637) since 2013.
“We really want to win for the fans who came to the stadium,” said LG head coach Yeom Kyung-yup, and the players were equally motivated.
Doosan, battling for third place, opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with runners on first and third when Park Jun-young hit a hard single to the third baseman’s side.
However, LG responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, Yeom Kyung-yup made the decision to pinch-hit for Kim Min-sung. Moon’s shot flew behind the center fielder and hit the glove of Doosan’s Jeong Soo-bin, sending him to the ground. All three runners reached base.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop pulled starter Kim Dong-joo and brought in Park Chi-guk, who walked Lee Jae-won and hit Heo Do-hwan with a pitch to load the bases before giving up a two-out double to Park Hae-min in left field.
LG’s native ace Lim Chan-kyu pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing one run on four hits, to earn his 14th win of the season, his first in regulation since 2020.
LG ended the regular season with 86 wins, two ties and 56 losses, but Doosan has two high-profile games against title contenders SSG Landers on April 16 (Jamsil) and 17 (Incheon).
Doosan, which was tied for third place before the game, dropped to fifth place behind the NC Dinos, who defeated the Samsung Lions, and SSG, who did not play.
Doosan needs to win both of its remaining games against SSG and for the NC Dinos to lose two or draw one of their two games against the KIA Tigers to finish in third place, which would put them directly into the semifinals.
They need two wins against SSG to secure fourth place, where they will play with the ‘one game in hand’ for the wild card.
LG also won the final game of the regular season against Doosan to finish 11-5 in the Jamsil rivalry this season.
LG was also the owner of Jamsil Stadium that day.
Throughout the game, yellow waves symbolizing LG were seen in the stands. 슬롯