Choi Won-tae, 26, a right-handed pitcher acquired in a trade by the LG Twins as they look to win their first Korean Series title in 29 years, struggled in his second game in an LG uniform.
Choi struggled against the visiting Samsung Lions at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Friday, giving up six runs on nine hits (one home run) in five innings with four strikeouts.
Choi, who pitched a flawless six innings of two-hit, five-strikeout ball against the Doosan Bears on March 30, his first start since joining LG, did not live up to expectations against Samsung.
Choi, who was knocked around for 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits in four innings against Samsung on May 4 while playing for the Kiwoom Heroes, was stymied by the ‘Lion Legion’ bats even after changing uniforms.
After LG scored two runs in the top of the first inning, Choi Won-tae took the mound in the bottom of the first and gave up a triple to leadoff hitter Kim Hyun-jun and a sacrifice fly to Kim Sung-yoon.
In the third inning, he gave up a double to Koo Ja-rook with runners on first and second to tie the game at 2-2, then gave up a sacrifice fly to Ryu Ji-hyeok with the bases loaded to make it 3-2.
In the top of the fourth, Austin Dean hit a one-run homer to tie the game again, but he gave up a solo shot to Jae-hyun Lee in the bottom of the fourth to fall back to 3-4.
Choi Won-tae took the mound in the fifth inning, but gave up a single to Ryu Ji-hyuk with runners on first and third, and then a double steal with runners on first and third.
Trailing 3-6, Choi Won-tae handed the mound over to Choi Dong-hwan at the start of the bottom of the sixth inning and finished the job. 토토