Austin started at third base in the ninth game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on April 19 and went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored to lead the Twins to a 16-7 victory.
After warming up with a single to right in the first inning, Austin activated his first home run in the bottom of the third. On a full count, he took a seven-seam outside slider (128 mph) from Doosan starter Keisho Shirakawa for a 105-meter home run. It was his 19th home run of the season in six games, his first since May 9 against the Jamsil Kia Tigers.
After a pitcher’s choice in the bottom of the fourth inning, Austin arched again in the top of the sixth. With runners on first and third and one out, Choi stole second base. Austin then took a 7-seam fastball (146 mph) from Hong Gun-hee (2B-2S) for a three-run home run over the left-field fence. It was Austin’s first multi-homer game in 48 days, coincidentally, since June 1 against Doosan.
Austin didn’t stop there, hitting a two-run double with runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh inning to give him his first four-hit game of the season.
“It felt great to hit two home runs,” Austin said after the game, 바카라사이트 ”and the team is starting to pick up the momentum. Now it’s just a matter of how we handle these last few games,” Austin said after the game.
Austin has hit two multi-homer games against Doosan this year.
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s because it’s a rivalry game. Honestly, when we play LG-Doosan, there are so many fans that come and support us, so there’s a lot of energy on both sides, and I think that’s why we perform so well. Doosan is always doing well and we’re doing well, so it’s a tense flow that gives us strength.”
Austin also had some candid insight into his batting order. “I prefer batting fourth, which I’ve always done, but my job with LG is that when I go up to bat, it doesn’t matter what order I’m batting in, I have to get on base and score runs and get RBIs. That’s my main job. I don’t care if I’m batting third or ninth, I’m just going to do my job as a hitter and come in,” he said, showing his team-first mentality.
With the victory, LG swept its three-game series, won its last four games in a row and extended its winning streak to four games against Doosan to reach the 50-win plateau this season. However, the gap to first place is now six games due to the dominance of the Kia Tigers.
When asked if he was confident of closing the six-game gap, Austin said, “Honestly, it’s tough, but baseball is a game of luck. If we continue our winning ways and Kia falters even once, I think we have a chance.” ”But Kia is so good this year. I doubt that the time I said will come when they falter. I don’t think it will be easy.”