[Sports Seoul | Kang Yoon-sik] The LG Twins have stranded 329 runners this season — the most in the league. That number tells the story: games keep stalling for a club that’s earned the unfortunate nickname “Left-on-Base Twins.” Austin Dean (33), the team’s middle-of-the-order force, has been battling at the plate, but he’s often been doing it alone. The team clearly misses cleanup hitter Moon Bo-kyung (26).
The defending champion sits second at 22-14, 1.5 games behind first-place KT. Despite a lopsided 1-4 head-to-head record against KT, LG has kept pace in the standings. Still, the offense rarely delivers a decisive blow — many games end up being close affairs.
The issue is the lineup’s inability to finish rallies. LG’s team batting average is a respectable .273 — third-best among the 10 clubs behind KT and Hanwha — but the on-field results don’t match that ranking. Players get on base, yet the team struggles to plate those runners.
As of May 11, LG had played 36 games and left 329 runners stranded, well above the league average of 295. That inefficiency shows up in the run column: just 166 RBIs, good for sixth in the league. Those figures underline how often LG’s offense stalls.
When LG fails to cash in on chances, momentum shifts to the other team. A clear example came in Daejeon on May 10 against Hanwha: LG loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but couldn’t score. Hanwha starter Park Jun-young settled and dominated from there, and LG fell 3-9.
Even in wins, LG rarely builds comfortable leads. On May 5 at Jamsil against Doosan, they left the bases loaded twice and escaped with a narrow 2-1 victory. Close games pile on wear and tear and test a roster’s depth.
There are bright spots. Austin Dean has been one of them. He’s hitting .377 with nine homers, 32 RBIs and a 1.103 OPS, and he’s hitting .370 with runners on base. Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop shuffled him between the No. 3 and No. 4 slots last week to maximize production — and it’s paid off.
Still, a lineup needs nine contributors. Dean can’t carry the burden alone. LG feels the absence of Moon Bo-kyung, currently sidelined with injury. Moon has shown consistency this season — he’s hit .313 with runners on, .308 otherwise, and an impressive .433 with runners in scoring position. His clutch bat is missed.
LG’s pitching staff leads the league with a 3.87 team ERA. They can pitch and defend. But pitching only takes you so far — you still need runs to win. With the left-on-base total climbing, LG’s offensive struggles look like their biggest problem heading forward. skywalker@sportsseoul.com
