Seoul: After beginning September with a promising 5 1/2-game lead over the Hanwha Eagles, LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb anticipated that his team would have clinched the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) pennant by now. However, with just two games remaining in the season, the Twins have yet to secure the top spot, following a recent loss to the Eagles. Currently, the Twins hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Eagles and can secure the top seed with a win against the Doosan Bears on Tuesday or if the Eagles lose to the Lotte Giants.
According to Yonhap News Agency, if the Twins do not succeed on Tuesday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, they will have another opportunity on Wednesday during a home game against the NC Dinos. “We tried so hard not to get to this point, but here we are,” Youm mentioned with a wry smile in his pregame media availability. “Now, our biggest goal is not to have this pushed to tomorrow’s game.”
The Twins have faced challenges this season, particularly with their bullpen, which has struggled with the league’s third-worst ERA of 6.87 in September. Despite reinforcements arriving in June with veteran left-hander Ham Deok-ju returning from an elbow injury and right-hander Yi Jung-yong completing military service, the desired improvements have not materialized. “When those two guys joined us, I thought we would only get stronger, but it hasn’t turned out that way,” Youm admitted. “That’s why baseball is such a tough game. Things often don’t go the way we want them to. Otherwise, we’d be in first place comfortably by now.”
Adding to the team’s challenges, starter Son Ju-young has been sidelined with the flu and will not start Tuesday’s game. Instead, Song Seung-ki will take the mound. Youm noted that Son received IV treatments and plans to do light exercises indoors. “If he’s good to go, then we will use him in later innings. If not, we will have to turn to other pitchers,” Youm explained. Son has been a standout performer this season with an 11-6 record and a 3.39 ERA, including a seven-inning shutout performance in his last start.
With high stakes and limited games left, the Twins are determined to secure the KBO pennant and avoid a nail-biting finish to the season.