Game Summary
The Doosan Bears bested the LG Twins 8-3 on Saturday night at Jamsil Stadium, snapping a brief offensive lull with a balanced hitting attack that overwhelmed LG’s bullpen. Benjamin, the Bears’ right-hander, was the story early, shutting down LG’s lineup through the first half of the game while his teammates built a comfortable cushion. The Twins scored once in the opening frame but could never sustain any momentum, falling victim to sloppy base-running mistakes and a pitching staff that unraveled after starter Tolhurst departed.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Twins | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Doosan Bears | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
LG came into the contest needing a strong outing from Tolhurst, but the veteran left-hander lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. His early troubles set the tone for a long night. Meanwhile, Benjamin carved through the LG order with a surgeon’s precision, fanning eight batters across six innings of work. When the Twins brought in reinforcements from their bench in the middle innings, they found no relief—the Bears kept chipping away, and by the fifth inning, the contest was effectively decided.
Pitching Performance
Benjamin was masterful against LG’s right-handed hitters, holding them to just four hits over six frames. He walked nobody and struck out eight, establishing early command that never wavered. The Bears’ bullpen was equally stingy. Kim Jung-woo earned a hold with a perfect seventh, while Takada and Park Chi-guk combined for two scoreless innings to close things out.
For the Twins, the pitching became a revolving door. Tolhurst surrendered six earned runs and nine hits, a stark contrast to his usual efficiency on the mound. After he departed, LG’s relief corps took over but found little success. Lee Woo-chan threw a clean inning, and Park Si-won struck out two in his appearance, yet Kim Young-woo allowed a run in the sixth. A throwing error by Park Si-won in the sixth frame also contributed to the damage. Kim Yun-shik and Bae Jae-jun saw limited action in mop-up duty.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Twins | ||||||
| Tolhurst [L] | 4 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Lee Woo-chan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Park Si-won | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kim Young-woo | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Yun-sik | 0 ⅔ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bae Jae-jun | 0 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Doosan Bears | ||||||
| Benjamin [W] | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Kim Jung-woo [H] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Takada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Park Chi-guk | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Offensive Highlights
The Bears’ hitting was spread throughout the lineup, preventing any one pitcher from finding a rhythm. Kim Dae-han led the way with two hits and two RBIs, while Oh Myung-jin went 2-for-5 with some key at-bats. Park Jun-soon, Kim Min-seok, and Jo Soo-haeng each contributed two hits, keeping the pressure on throughout the evening.
For LG, the offense was sporadic at best. Lee Ju-heon blasted a two-run home run in the third inning to briefly give the Twins hope, but he was the only Twins player to truly threaten Benjamin. Song Chan-ui drove in a run with a hit but managed just one safety in four at-bats. The lack of depth in LG’s hitting order was painfully evident as the game wore on.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG Twins | |||||
| Song Chan-ui | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lee Joo-heon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Doosan Bears | |||||
| Kim Dae-han | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Oh Myung-jin | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Park Jun-soon | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Min-seok | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jo Su-haeng | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Park Chan-ho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Key Play
The turning point came in the fourth inning, a frame that saw the Bears take definitive control. With runners on second and third and one out, Park Chan-ho stepped into the box against Tolhurst. The Bears’ outfielder drove a double down the left field line, plating two crucial runs and essentially burying the Twins’ comeback hopes. The inning was a disaster for LG: multiple extra-base hits, a stolen base by Park Jun-soon, and sloppy defense combined to let Doosan extend its lead. When you’re already trailing, you cannot afford innings like that against a well-managed opponent.
Standings Impact
With the victory, Doosan improved to 52-4-45 and remained in fourth place, though they continue to chase the teams ahead of them. LG drops to 55-1-45, holding onto third despite the loss. The Twins’ record suggests they’ve been a strong team overall, but nights like this—where pitching falters and hitting goes missing in spurts—could prove costly as the season enters its final stretch. The Bears showed they have the depth and balance needed to compete with anyone on any given night.