'It's the 2nd game now' But LG has an advantage... I'm scared of the last place 'Miracle Team'

Sep 13, 2024

LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop and KT manager Lee Kang-chul. Sports Chosun DB

KT and Lotte won the game 12-2 at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 5th. KT manager Lee Kang-chul and his players share the joy of victory. Busan = Reporter Huh Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.09.05/

The game between the LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium on the 8th. The winning LG players are happy. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.08/

It's the 2nd game.

KT Wiz, who was in last place, suddenly rose to fourth place and took over third place.

KT won 10-4 at home against the NC Dinos in Suwon on the 12th.

Starter William Cuevas scored his seventh win of the season (12) with a quality start of six hits, six strikeouts and two runs in six innings, and Mel Rojas Jr. hit consecutive home runs and scored five RBIs alone to lead the team to victory.

With the victory, KT widened the gap with the fifth-place Doosan Bears to 1.5 games, and approached the third-place LG Twins, who did not play due to the cancellation of rain, by two games.

LG has 12 games left and KT has 10 games left, so the difference in the second game is not easy to reverse. Even if LG has a 6 wins, 6 losses, and a 50% winning rate in 12 games, KT must win seven games in the remaining 10 games to tie the score with 74 wins, 2 draws, and 68 losses. However, in the case of a tie, the ranking is determined by relative performance, so LG, which is leading by 9 wins and 7 losses, can keep third place. In other words, KT has to win and lose eight games to come from behind.

Still, LG seems unstable and KT's hope to turn around is due to the very different atmosphere between the two.

The game between LG and KT at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 30th. KT Rojas hit a solo home run in the seventh inning. Suwon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.08.30/

The KT-LG match at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 28th is welcomed by Hong Chang-ki and Austin after Moon Bo-kyung hit an upset three-run shot with two outs and runners on the first and third bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.8.28/

LG has been on a downward spiral since losing its showdown with the No. 1 KIA Tigers. It was sluggish with 11 wins and 13 losses in August and only 3 wins and 5 losses in September. It is 14 wins and 18 losses since August.

KT has seen a solid uptick since July. KT, which ranked No. 1 in July with 13 wins and 6 losses, posted a 50% record of 13 wins and 13 losses in August and is on the rise again with 5 wins and 2 losses in September.

For LG, the pride of last year's champion does not allow it to fall to fourth place after competing for first place. The starting lineup is solid, but the bullpen and hitting have been in trouble all season.

Since the match between the two is over, I wonder how they will perform against the other teams.

LG will play three games each against Lotte and Doosan, two against NC, and one against SSG, Hanwha, Kiwoom, and Samsung. It is burdensome that there are seven games against Doosan, Lotte, and SSG, which are still fighting for fifth place.

KT has three games left with last-place Kiwoom and two games each with Samsung and SSG, and one with Doosan, KIA and Lotte. Playing three games against Kiwoom, which has almost been ranked, will help KT.

Will LG be able to keep its third place. Or will KT, which rose from last place to second place last year, make a miracle from last place to third place again this year. The last-minute ranking fight became interesting.

indyk@sportschosun.com