SEOUL (Interstat) — Oh Ji-hwan’s two-run home run in the first inning and Austin Dean’s solo shot in the third carried the LG Twins to a 3-1 victory over the Kia Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Jamsil Stadium.

The win before an announced crowd of 23,750 gave LG a 32-20-1 record and moved the Twins two games ahead of the Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization standings. Kia fell to 28-24-1.

The game was decided early, when the Tigers’ starting pitcher, Oller, worked through a difficult first inning that saw him allow the decisive runs.

LG’s first batter, Hong Chang-ki, drew a walk to open the bottom of the first. After Park Hae-min flied out to center and Austin Dean flied out to center, Oh Ji-hwan stepped to the plate. The shortstop drove a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall, scoring Hong and giving the Twins a 2-0 lead. Cheon Seong-ho flied out to left to end the inning.

Kia stranded a runner in the top of the second. LG threatened again in the bottom of the second, loading the bases on a single by Lee Ju-heon, a single by Shin Min-jae and a walk to Hong Chang-ki, but Park Hae-min fouled out to first to escape the jam.

The Tigers’ only rally came in the top of the third, but they could not push a run across. Kim Sun-bin grounded out, Kim Do-young flied out and Aderlin Rodriguez lined out to second.

LG extended its lead in the bottom of the third. Austin Dean led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, making it 3-0. Oh Ji-hwan followed with a single to center, but Cheon Seong-ho grounded into a catcher’s bunt double play, wiping out Oh. Song Chan-eui flied out to right.

Oller settled down after the early damage. The Kia right-hander finished six innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking two. He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced after the Dean homer.

Kia’s offense remained stagnant against LG starter Song Seung-ki. The left-hander worked 5 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and allowing no earned runs while striking out four. He walked one.

The Tigers put a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth when Rodriguez doubled to left-center with two outs, but Na Sung-bum struck out to end the inning. Kia again threatened in the top of the sixth. Park Jae-hyun singled to center with one out, and Kim Sun-bin singled to left-center, moving Park to third. But Kim Do-young grounded into a double play, with Kim Sun-bin forced out at second.

LG’s bullpen held firm. Kim Jin-su retired all five batters he faced over 1 2/3 innings, striking out none. Son Ju-young pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out one. Kim Yun-sik worked 2/3 of an inning in the ninth, allowing no hits.

Kia finally broke through in the top of the eighth against LG reliever Kim Jin-sung. Kim Tae-gun drew a leadoff walk. Park Min then doubled to left, scoring Kim Tae-gun and cutting the deficit to 3-1. Park Jae-hyun flied out to right, and Kim Sun-bin grounded out to short. Kim Do-young struck out to end the inning.

The Tigers attempted a rally in the ninth but could not complete it. Oh Sun-woo flied out to center, Kim Tae-gun walked, Park Min doubled to left to score Kim Min‑gyu — the run was charged to Kim Jin-sung — but Park Jae-hyun flied out to right and Kim Sun-bin grounded out to short.

LG closer Kim Yun-sik retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win.

Oh Ji-hwan finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Austin Dean went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. For Kia, Park Min had a double and an RBI, and Park Jae-hyun and Kim Sun-bin each collected two hits.

Kia relievers Kim Beom-su and Cho Sang-woo each threw a scoreless inning, with Kim Beom-su allowing one hit and striking out one.

The loss was the second in a row for the Tigers, who defeated the Twins 12-2 on Friday in the series opener. LG had lost two straight before Saturday’s victory.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kia Tigers 6, LG Twins 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave LG a 60.10 percent probability to win. LG was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 8.5.