In a dominating display, the LG Twins triumphed over the Hanwha Eagles with an 8-2 victory in the first game of the Korean Series on Sunday. The match was held at a packed Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, attracting a sellout crowd of 23,750 fans.
Shin Min-jae was the standout performer, contributing significantly with three hits, three runs, and two RBIs. On the mound, starter Anders Tolhurst was effective, striking out seven batters over six innings while allowing just two runs. This win is crucial for the Twins, as teams winning the first game have historically gone on to capture the Korean Series about 73% of the time.
The Twins set the pace early, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. The inning began with Hong Chang-ki drawing a seven-pitch walk, and Shin Min-jae followed with an infield single. A wild pitch by Eagles’ starter Moon Dong-ju advanced the runners, eventually allowing Hong to score on a grounder from Kim Hyun-soo. A double from Moon Bo-gyeong then drove home Shin Min-jae to give the Twins a quick 2-0 lead.
Although the Eagles threatened during the game, Tolhurst managed to escape several jams, including a stretch where he retired eight batters in a row, with five of those being strikeouts. However, the Eagles did manage to get on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, narrowing the Twins’ lead to 4-2 with a couple of runs, thanks to a double by Luis Liberato and a single from Roh Si-hwan.
The Twins responded decisively in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs to extend their lead to 8-2, capitalizing on a shaky performance from the Eagles’ bullpen. Shin Min-jae’s two-run single, alongside meaningful contributions from Kim Hyun-soo and Moon Bo-gyeong, sealed the game for the Twins.
As the series progresses, the Twins are poised to pursue their second KBO championship title in three years, having broken their 29-year title drought in 2023. The Eagles, conversely, are aiming to secure their first championship since 1999, making this series particularly vital for both teams. Game 2 is set to take place back at Jamsil Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, with the Twins looking to extend their series lead. Right-hander Im Chan-kyu will take the mound for the Twins, while the Eagles will counter with the experienced left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, adding further excitement to an already thrilling match-up.