[Sports Seoul | Jamsil=Kang Yoon-sik, Reporter] \"I really wanted to go back out for the ninth.\"
LG's Lachlan Wells (27) pushed the team into sole possession of first place with a dominant start, firing eight scoreless innings. He admitted some frustration at not getting the shutout, but was satisfied that he helped secure the win.
Wells started for LG on April 22 at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium against Hanwha in a 2026 KBO regular-season game and delivered a dominant line: eight innings, one hit, one walk, seven strikeouts and no runs allowed. His outing powered LG to its third straight victory.
This one left a little sting. Except for the top of the fourth, Wells faced virtually no trouble, neutralizing Hanwha’s lineup with aggressive pitching. He totaled 84 pitches through eight innings and was in position to chase a shutout, but manager Yeom Kyung-yeop turned the ball over to Yoo Young-chan to open the ninth.
Yeom said he pulled Wells not because Wells didn't want to continue, but to avoid overworking him. Wells acknowledged he wanted to pitch the ninth, yet he put the team's needs first. While disappointed, he was pleased he left the club in a position to win.
After the game, Wells told reporters, \"I really wanted to go out for the ninth. I've never thrown a complete-game shutout, so I asked to go back out. If we had scored in the bottom of the eighth, I might have gone back out. It's disappointing it didn't happen, but I'm happy I put the team in a position to win,\" he said with a smile.
He said there was nothing special in his preparation—he stuck to his usual routine. Wells credited the performance to an aggressive game plan he and pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam and catcher Park Dong-won discussed before the game and then executed.
\"There wasn't anything different. I prepared by sticking to my routine,\" Wells said. \"Coach Kim and Park Dong-won and I agreed beforehand to attack the hitters. That plan worked.\"
Wells has been a steady presence in the rotation, but he is expected to move back to the bullpen once Son Ju-young joins the starting staff. He said he wants to remain a starter, but he’s prepared to embrace whatever role helps the team.
\"I do want to stay in the starting rotation,\" Wells said. \"If I go back to the bullpen, that's my role. I believe I should carry out whatever role I'm given for the good of the team. I'll do my job and help the team,\" he added. skywalker@sportsseoul.com
