The LG Twins have made a statement in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, bouncing back from a painful walk-off defeat to clinch a crucial 6-4 victory over the SSG Landers on May 17 at Incheon SSG Landers Field. With this win, LG not only took the weekend series with two wins out of three but also improved their season record to 25-17, keeping their hopes alive for a solo run at the top of the standings should other contenders stumble.
Just a day earlier, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop was left lamenting a missed opportunity, reflecting on a 3-4 walk-off loss that saw the bullpen falter in the ninth inning. "We couldn’t get those last three outs. After the eighth, I thought the ninth would be easier, but it was tough as expected," Yeom admitted before Saturday’s game, as reported by OSEN. The frustration was palpable, especially after relievers Kim Yoon-sik, Woo Kang-hoon, and Kim Jin-sung had combined for 4⅓ scoreless innings before Bae Jae-jun surrendered the walk-off double to Chae Hyun-woo.
But baseball is nothing if not a game of resilience, and LG showed plenty of it. The Twins came out determined to flip the script, and they did just that. Austin Dean, the team's power-hitting first baseman, was the undisputed star of the day. Dean launched back-to-back home runs—his 10th and 11th of the season—delivering the kind of clutch offense that had been missing in the previous night’s heartbreak. Not to be outdone, rookie third baseman Moon Jung-bin got the scoring started early with his first career home run, a two-run shot in the second inning that set the tone for the day.
The game was far from a stroll, though. The SSG Landers, sitting in fourth place with a 22-1-18 record, matched LG’s firepower with home runs of their own. Kim Jae-hwan blasted a mammoth 135-meter solo shot in the second inning, and O Tae-gon and Guillermo Heredia each added solo homers in the fifth and eighth, respectively, keeping the pressure on. Yet, every time SSG closed the gap, LG found a way to answer—often with the long ball.
On the mound, Lim Chan-gyu was handed the ball for LG and delivered a gritty performance. Despite allowing two home runs among his six hits over six innings, Lim held SSG to three runs and notched his third win of the year. He threw 104 pitches, navigating high-leverage situations with poise and giving his team a chance to win. "(Jang) Hyun-sik needed to hold on, but it’s disappointing," Yeom said, hinting at the recent bullpen struggles and the need for key relievers to step up.
Those bullpen woes had been the story of the series. In the opener on May 15, LG nearly squandered a 7-3 lead in the eighth, only to escape with an 8-7 victory after Jang Hyun-sik coughed up a grand slam. The following night, Bae Jae-jun’s ninth-inning collapse led to a walk-off defeat. The absence of new closer Son Joo-young in that game was keenly felt, and Yeom explained why: "(Son) Joo-young isn’t pitching on consecutive days yet. He’s new to the bullpen and coming off an injury, so we’re alternating him day by day until he’s fully adjusted. That’s the plan at least until the middle of next week."
Son’s journey to the closer role has been anything but straightforward. Early in the season, LG’s primary closer Yoo Young-chan racked up 13 saves before a significant injury sidelined him. The club considered a return for high-profile closer Ko Woo-seok, but he opted to continue his career in the United States. Enter Son Joo-young, a left-hander who had previously been a starter and was still recovering from an elbow injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic. Despite the challenges, Son has seized his opportunity, and his impact has been immediate.
On Saturday, with the game hanging in the balance, Son was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth. He responded with a flawless inning, retiring the side in order and securing his third save of the season. "He’s finally on track now, and from next weekend, we’ll look at having him pitch on back-to-back days," Yeom told Sports Chosun. The manager’s faith in Son’s ability to handle closing duties was rewarded, and the contrast in bullpen stability when Son is available versus when he’s not has been stark.
Yeom also had to juggle his lineup due to injuries to key defenders. Regular center fielder Park Hae-min and shortstop Oh Ji-hwan were both given rest to manage muscle tightness—Park with a stiff back and Oh with a gluteal strain. "If even one of those two is missing, our defense takes a big hit. We have to manage them, so today they rest. We just have to do our best with what we have," Yeom explained. The starting lineup featured Hong Chang-ki (DH), Gu Bon-hyeok (SS), Austin Dean (1B), Park Dong-won (C), Moon Jung-bin (3B), Song Chan-ui (LF), Lee Jae-won (RF), Kim Hyun-jong (CF), and Shin Min-jae (2B), with Lim Chan-gyu on the mound.
For SSG, ace Kim Geon-woo was aiming to become the league’s outright wins leader but was tagged for his first loss of the season after giving up five runs (including two homers) in five innings. The defeat kept SSG in fourth, while LG’s victory, coupled with potential losses by Samsung and KT, put the Twins in striking distance of first place.
The win also gave LG a 5-1 record against SSG in their head-to-head matchups this season, a testament to their resilience and adaptability. The team’s ability to shake off bullpen meltdowns, make strategic adjustments, and rely on emerging stars like Dean, Moon, and Son has kept them firmly in the hunt as the season approaches its midway point.
Looking ahead, LG will continue to monitor their bullpen usage and player health closely. Yeom’s philosophy remains clear: give young pitchers chances even after failure, because "if you stop using them after a failure, they’ll never grow." With Son Joo-young’s role solidifying and the offense firing on all cylinders, the Twins have plenty to be optimistic about.
As the dust settles on a dramatic weekend, LG’s bounce-back win over SSG stands as a testament to their character and depth. With momentum on their side and the top spot within reach, the Twins are poised for an exciting run in the weeks to come.