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Eagles rally past Twins to close gap in KBO standings

Published: 27 Sep. 2025, 10:50

Roh Si-hwan of the Hanwha Eagles (R) makes the safe gesture after crossing the home plate during a KBO regular-season game against the LG Twins at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on Sept. 26, in this photo provided by the Eagles. [YONHAP]

The Hanwha Eagles scored all of their runs in a seventh-inning rally to defeat the LG Twins 4-1 at home Friday, staying alive in their chase for first place in the KBO with the regular season winding down.

By taking the first game of this crucial three-game set at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Seoul, the Eagles improved to 81-55-3 (wins-losses-ties) and moved within two and a half games of the league-leading Twins, who fell to 84-53-3.

The Eagles have five games remaining, and the Twins have four.

The Twins' magic number to clinch the best record remains three — meaning, when a combination of their own wins and the Eagles' losses reaches three, the Twins will be assured of the top spot in the regular season and a bye to the Korean Series.

Since the two teams are playing each other this weekend, the Twins will win the pennant if they win the next two games in Daejeon.

Twins slugger Austin Dean broke a string of zeroes with a solo home run off starter Ryu Hyun-jin in the top of the sixth inning. It was Dean's 30th home run of the season, making him the first player in Twins history to launch 30 homers in back-to-back seasons.

The Eagles, who had gone scoreless in their past 15 innings before Friday's game, put up a four-spot in the bottom of the seventh to seize control of the game.

The Eagles tied the score thanks to a defensive lapse by the Twins.

With runners at second and third, Ha Ju-suk bunted right back to pitcher Kim Young-woo. Roh Si-hwan, the lead runner, got caught in a rundown between third and home, and looked to be a certain out.

While holding the ball in his right hand, catcher Park Dong-won tagged Roh with the mitt in his left hand, as the runner tried to dance his way home. The initial out call on Roh was overturned following a video replay.

With runners again at second and third, Lee Do-yun put the Eagles up for good with a pinch-hit, two-run single. Two batters later, Sim Woo-jun's bunt single cashed in another run for the home team.

Closer Kim Seo-hyeon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 33rd save of the season.

In other games Friday, the Lotte Giants outlasted the Samsung Lions 10-9 at Sajik Baseball Stadium in the southeastern city of Busan, living to see another day in the race for the postseason.

The Giants, now 66-69-6, sit three games out of the fifth and final postseason spot with three games left. They must win out and also get help from other teams to squeak into the October tournament.

That fifth spot is currently occupied by the KT Wiz, who lost to the SSG Landers 5-2 at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul. The Wiz fell to 70-67-4 and have three games left and trail the Lions (72-67-2) by one game.

The Landers stayed in third place after moving to 71-63-4. They lead the Lions by 1 1/5 games.

The NC Dinos shut out the Doosan Bears 3-0 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul for their fourth straight victory, which took them to 66-67-6. With five games to go, the Dinos are in sixth place, two games back of the Wiz.

The top seed earns a bye to the Korean Series, and the No. 2 seed advances straight to the second round.

The third-ranked team begins its postseason in the first round, where it will face the winner of the wild card series between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.

Yonhap