Daejeon: The Hanwha Eagles executed a remarkable comeback, scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and defeat the LG Twins 7-3. This victory on Wednesday marked their first win in the Korean Series, held at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. The win was crucial for the Eagles, who had lost the initial two games of the best-of-seven Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) championship series.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the pivotal moment came when Sim Woo-jun hit a decisive two-run double, propelling the Eagles to take the lead during the eighth inning rally. The Eagles are now aiming to become only the third team in 22 attempts to recover from a 2-0 Korean Series deficit and clinch the title. Game 4 is set to take place back at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Eagles initially took the lead for the second consecutive game, as Choi Jae-hoon's single brought Lee Jin-young home after a fielding error by the Twins' left fielder. Despite early opportunities to extend their lead, the Twins' defense held firm with a strategic play by shortstop Oh Ji-hwan.
The Twins responded promptly in the top of the third inning when Shin Min-jae drove in a run, followed by a solo home run from Kim Hyun-soo in the top fourth inning, giving the Twins their first lead of the game. Despite the setback, Eagles' starter Cody Ponce managed to prevent further scoring, navigating through a challenging sixth inning to keep the Twins at bay.
The game turned into a battle of the bullpens, with the Eagles conceding another run in the top eighth inning due to a wild pitch, putting them behind 3-1. However, a resilient Eagles side capitalized on an error by the Twins' center fielder to ignite their comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning. A series of strategic plays, including a key hit by Moon Hyun-bin and base-loading walks, set the stage for Woo-jun's game-changing double. Choi Jae-hoon added to the lead with a single, securing a 7-3 advantage.
Kim Seo-hyeon, the Eagles' closer, overcame recent struggles to shut down the Twins in the ninth inning, securing the Eagles' victory. As the series progresses, the Eagles will look to even the score in Game 4, with American pitcher Ryan Weiss taking the mound. Weiss has previously performed well against the Twins, boasting a 2.25 ERA in regular-season meetings.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Yonny Chirinos, who is set to make his South Korean postseason debut. Chirinos demonstrated strong form during the regular season and has been effective against the Eagles in previous matchups. As both teams prepare for the next encounter, the Eagles aim to build on their momentum, while the Twins seek to regain control of the series.