The LG Twins’ Futures League team experienced a historic and demoralizing collapse on July 7th, surrendering 10 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to suffer an 11-5 defeat against the SSG Landers. This shocking turnaround occurred just two days after a similarly devastating ninth-inning implosion where the team allowed 8 runs in a previous loss to the same SSG Landers squad.
A Ninth-Inning Meltdown of Unprecedented Proportions
The Twins held a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning at the LG Champions Park in Icheon. However, the wheels came off spectacularly when three pitchers combined to allow 10 earned runs, turning a solid lead into a crushing 11-5 loss. This marked the second consecutive game against SSG where the Twins’ bullpen faltered dramatically in the final inning, but this latest collapse was even more severe.
The Pitching Staff’s Struggles in the Ninth
The Twins’ starting pitching had performed admirably throughout the game. Starter Park Jun-seong pitched five innings, allowing only one earned run. Choi Ji-myeong followed with two scoreless innings, and Yang Woo-jin added another scoreless inning. With a 3-1 lead entering the ninth, manager Heo Jun-hyeok took the mound.
Heo’s outing began poorly. He issued a leadoff walk to Lee Won-jun after throwing four consecutive balls. The next batter, Choi Yun-seok, hit a two-run home run to left field, tying the game at 3-3. Despite recording one out, Heo allowed consecutive walks to Jang Jae-yul and Park Myung-hyun. With runners on first and second, a pitching change was made, bringing in Jin Woo-young.
Jin Woo-young’s relief appearance also proved difficult. A ground ball by Kim Min-jun resulted in the runner on second being thrown out at third for the second out, leaving runners on first and third. What followed was a barrage of walks and hits that allowed the Landers to take the lead and extend it significantly.
- Jin Woo-young walked Moon Sang-joon, loading the bases with two outs.
- A wild pitch allowed a run to score, giving SSG a 4-3 lead.
- Another walk to Kim Chang-pyeong re-loaded the bases.
- Choi Jun-woo hit a two-run extra-base hit, extending the lead to 6-3.
The pitching carousel continued as LG brought in Kwon Woo-joon, a rookie, in another attempt to stem the tide. However, the Landers continued to pile on the runs:
- Kwon Woo-joon gave up a two-run double to Lee Won-jun.
- Choi Yun-seok hit another double to add another run.
- Jeon Jun-ho was hit by a pitch.
- Jang Jae-yul hit a run-scoring single.
- Park Myung-hyun hit another run-scoring single, widening the gap to 11-3.
The inning finally concluded with Kim Min-jun hitting a ground ball to second base for the third out, but not before SSG had scored a staggering 10 runs.
Late Rally Falls Short in the Bottom of the Ninth
Trailing 11-3, the LG Twins attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. They managed to score two runs through a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly, making the score 11-5. However, they could not sustain the rally, and the game ended with the six-run deficit.
A Troubling Pattern Against SSG
The repeated collapses in the ninth inning against the SSG Landers raise significant concerns for the Twins’ Futures League team. In the game on July 5th, the Twins were leading 1-3 when the bullpen, featuring Heo Jun-hyeok, Kim Dae-hyun, and Ahn I-do, allowed 8 runs. Heo Jun-hyeok gave up 3 runs (2 unearned) on 3 hits in two-thirds of an inning. Kim Dae-hyun allowed 2 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks in two-thirds of an inning. Ahn I-do surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in one inning.
The combined pitching statistics from the ninth inning on July 7th are grim: Heo Jun-hyeok faced 1/3 of an inning, allowing 1 hit (a home run) and 4 earned runs on 3 walks. Jin Woo-young pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up 1 hit and 3 earned runs on 2 walks. Kwon Woo-joon pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs on 1 walk. In total, the ninth inning saw 6 hits, 6 walks, and 10 earned runs.
Looking Ahead: Addressing the Ninth-Inning Woes
These back-to-back ninth-inning collapses highlight a critical issue within the LG Twins’ Futures League pitching staff. The inability to close out games, particularly against the same opponent within a short timeframe, suggests potential problems with pitcher conditioning, mental fortitude under pressure, or strategic decision-making in late-game situations. Addressing these ninth-inning meltdowns will be crucial for the development and success of the team’s young talent.
