The LG Twins pulled off a thrilling comeback victory over the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization, powered by Austin's go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning.
Lotte led 5-2 on three straight home runs, while LG clawed back to within one run by the seventh.
On Sunday, LG created a chance in the first inning with consecutive hits from Song Chan-eui and Austin, then drew first blood as Moon Jung-bin drove in a run with a single to left. Lotte tied the game in the second on an error by the opposition, and LG went ahead again 2-1 in the top of the third, capitalizing on a right fielder's fielding error.
But in the bottom of the third, Han Dong-hee launched a go-ahead two-run home run (his fifth of the season) to flip the score to 3-2, and Yoon Dong-hee immediately added a back-to-back home run (his fourth of the season) to extend the lead to 4-2. On a double steal, an errant throw by LG compounded the damage, and Lotte widened the gap to 5-2.
LG starter Wells left the mound early after allowing five runs over three innings. LG failed to find an opening through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before mounting a counterattack in the seventh. A throwing error to first base on a ball hit by pinch hitter Moon Bo-gyeong narrowed the gap to 5-3, and an infield hit by pinch hitter Cheon Seong-ho brought LG within one run at 5-4. Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook completed six innings before being replaced midway through the seventh.
Austin's grand slam flipped the game in an instant, and LG also survived a bases-loaded threat in the ninth.
The momentum shifted in the eighth. Lotte introduced newly added Asia quota player Iimura for the first time. He fired a 152 km opening pitch and smoothly retired the side to two outs, but then crumbled with consecutive hits and a walk to load the bases with two outs.
Choi Jun-yong took over on the mound, but Austin connected on a second-pitch curveball and sent it over the left-field fence for a go-ahead grand slam. Suddenly it was 8-5, and the initiative had changed hands.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lotte pinch hitter Park Chan-hyung drove a 156 km first-pitch fastball from reliever Rios for a solo home run, narrowing the gap to 8-6.
The ninth inning remained a tense affair. Lotte pinch hitter Roh Jin-hyuk stepped to the plate and worked a walk against LG closer Son Joo-young after a six-pitch battle. Then Hwang Sung-bin hit a 148 km fastball from Son, with the ball deflecting off the pitcher's glove and turning into an infield hit in front of the shortstop. Next up, Park Seung-wook laid down a sacrifice bunt toward the third baseman, advancing the runners to second and third for one out.
After Reyes was retired on a ground ball straight to the pitcher, LG chose to issue an automatic intentional walk to Han Dong-hee. With two outs and the bases loaded, Son Joo-young allowed a bases-loaded walk to Yoon Dong-hee, making the score 8-7, a one-run game.
The momentum appeared to have swung to Lotte, but Park Chan-hyung, batting next, grounded out to the shortstop, and base runner Yoon Dong-hee was forced out at first to end the game.
