Seoul: The LG Twins clinched the best record of the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season Wednesday. Despite losing to the NC Dinos 7-3 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, the Twins secured the top spot when the Hanwha Eagles fell to the SSG Landers 6-5 in Incheon.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Eagles were close to winning their game and remaining in contention for the top spot. A win on Friday would have led to a tiebreaker game for first place on Saturday. However, the Landers hit two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, snatching a dramatic victory and solidifying the Twins' hold on the pennant.
This achievement grants the Twins a bye to the Korean Series, scheduled to commence on October 21. They last won the title in 2023, having also secured the best regular-season record then. Historically, the top seeds have an 85 percent success rate in claiming the Korean Series title.
The Twins' prospects of clinching the pennant seemed grim, as they had suffered three consecutive losses. Meanwhile, the Eagles took a 5-2 lead over the Landers into the ninth inning after a rain delay. The Landers, having already secured the No. 3 seed, had little at stake but managed a comeback with Hyun Won-hoe's two-run homer off closer Kim Seo-hyeon, narrowing the Eagles' lead to 5-4.
Twins players had retreated to the clubhouse, while a few hundred fans remained in the stands, energized by the cheering squad's music. After Kim Seo-hyeon issued a walk, rookie Lee Yul-ye delivered a two-run homer, extinguishing the Eagles' hopes and propelling the Twins to the Korean Series.
Fans who stayed at Jamsil witnessed the dramatic turn of events and celebrated as Twins players, donning championship t-shirts and hats, emerged for an on-field ceremony. Despite the celebratory moments, the Twins struggled during the game against the Dinos.
The Twins initially took the lead with Kim Hyun-soo's single scoring Austin Dean. However, the Dinos responded, and Kim Ju-won's performance, including stealing bases and scoring, helped them pull ahead. The Dinos extended their lead with contributions from Kim Hyung-jun and others, eventually securing a 7-1 lead.
The Twins managed two more runs in the bottom eighth inning, but their offense ended there. The Dinos delivered 12 hits, and their bullpen played a significant role in the victory. Despite starter Kim Tae-gyeong's brief appearance, relievers Kim Young-kyu and Chun Sa-min held the Twins at bay.
For the Dinos, the game held importance as they competed for the fifth and final postseason berth with the Wiz. The Wiz defeated the Kia Tigers 9-3 earlier, and the Dinos maintained their position by winning their eighth consecutive game, slightly improving their winning percentage over the Wiz.