The LG Twins triumphed over their rivals, the Doosan Bears, in the wildcard playoff, securing a spot in the semifinals of the KBO postseason.
On October 14, at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium, LG defeated Doosan 4-1 in the first game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason wildcard series.
Finishing the regular season in fourth place, LG entered the game with a one-win advantage and confirmed their advancement to the semifinals in just one match.
This victory marked LG's first postseason win over Doosan since 1998, ending a 28-year drought. Additionally, it was the last fall matchup between the two teams at Jamsil Stadium, which is set to be demolished after this season.
Conversely, Doosan, which finished the regular season in fifth place, concluded its 2026 season with this loss.
Leading the charge for LG was Austin Dean, who contributed significantly to the win. Austin hit a decisive two-run homer in the first inning, finishing the game with one hit, two RBIs, and one run scored. His performance earned him the Daily MVP award.
On the mound, LG's starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco showcased impressive stability. He pitched six innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out three while giving up just one run.
Doosan's starter Kwak Bin also performed well, overcoming an early home run to pitch six innings, allowing three hits, four walks, and striking out ten while giving up two runs. However, he did not receive adequate run support from his lineup.
The balance of the game shifted in the first inning. LG's leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki reached base on a hit-by-pitch, but was caught at second on a ground ball by Park Hae-min. With one out and one on, Austin capitalized on a high curveball from Kwak, launching a two-run homer over the left field wall.
After missing a bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning, LG maintained a tight game until the seventh, when Carrasco faced trouble. He allowed a single to Yunio Severino and a double to Yang Eui-ji before exiting the game. Reliever John Kennedy struck out Kim Min-seok but then hit Kang Seung-ho with a pitch, loading the bases with one out.
LG managed to limit the damage when pinch hitter Yang Seok-hwan's deep fly ball was caught by center fielder Park Hae-min for a sacrifice fly, allowing one run to score. They then allowed a double steal, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but handled pinch hitter Park Ji-hoon's ground ball to maintain their lead.
With a narrow one-run lead, LG added insurance in the eighth inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Shin Min-jae executed a squeeze bunt, bringing the runner from third home. A wild pitch due to a miscommunication from the Doosan battery allowed Park Dong-won to score, extending the lead to 4-1.
LG's bullpen remained focused, closing out the game without losing control. Lee Woo-chan, who took the mound in the eighth with one out and a runner on second, issued a walk to load the bases but struck out both Severino and Ryu Seung-min. In the ninth, Kim Kang-ryul finished the game with a clean inning.
With this wildcard victory, LG will face the third-place KIA Tigers in the semifinals. The first game of the series is scheduled for October 17 at 2 p.m. at Gwangju Kia Champions Field.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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