Twins replace cleanup hitter, Wiz save key bat on bench in KBO postseason elimination game

A win away from advancing to the next round in the South Korean baseball postseason, the LG Twins will have a different cleanup hitter Friday night. Manager Youm Kyoung-youb replaced slumping Moon Bo-gyeong with Oh Ji-hwan in the heart of the lineup for Game 5 of the first round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason against the KT Wiz. Moon has gone 0-for-15 with four strikeouts so far this series and is the only regular without a hit in the Twins lineup. Oh, the 2023 Korean Series MVP, has batted 5-for-16 with a couple of doubles. LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb watches his team play the KT Wiz in Game 4 of the first round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Yonhap) LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb watches his team play the KT Wiz in Game 4 of the first round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 9, 2024. (Yonhap) "I think Bo-gyeong has been feeling the we ight of batting cleanup," Youm told reporters at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. "Ji-hwan has been more consistent so far." Moon enjoyed the best regular season of his four-year career in 2024, with career highs of 22 home runs, 101 RBIs, 156 hits, 35 doubles and a .507 slugging percentage. That has translated to postseason success, and Moon has even shown bunt at times -- a sign that he may be pressing too hard to get on base. The Twins would obviously like to see the regular-season version of Moon, but they will also need their starter Im Chan-kyu to replicate his solid outing from Sunday's Game 2. He threw 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball then to earn his first postseason win as a starter. "I think the battle of starting pitchers will be the most important factor today," said Youm, whose team will go up against Game 2 loser Um Sang-back. "It will come down to how long each starter can go. We need Chan-kyu to do his job as a starter." The Wiz made just one lineup change from Wednesday, with left-handed hitting f irst baseman Oh Jae-il drawing in for right-handed Moon Sang-chul. Oh will bat sixth. "Im Chan-kyu is not an overpowering guy, and he throws a lot of breaking balls. Jae-il is bettered suited for that type of pitcher," Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul said. "And I figured Jae-il would struggle against their relievers, and I will be saving Sang-chul for later innings." Moon has homered twice in this series to lead the Wiz. Both clubs will have multiple pitchers ready to go on short notice in the bullpen. For the Wiz, even starting pitcher Wes Benjamin will be available, Lee said. The Twins are looking to become the first team in eight years to win back-to-back Korean Series titles, while the Wiz are trying to become the first No. 5 seed to reach the second round. Source: Yonhap News Agency