"No. 1 trial." Lotte's spirit is amazing! The bases were loaded in the ninth inning, but Samsung won 6-3 in sweat → The opening game was won for the first time in four years since the 2022 season [Daegu Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'Spring Giant' is really unusual this year. The Lotte Giants, who ranked first with an 80% win rate (8 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws) in the exhibition game, even devoured the regular season opener, marking a spectacular end to the 2026 season.

Lotte beat the Samsung Lions 6-3 in the opening game of the 2026 KBO League at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 28th. He led 6-0 and shook off Samsung's pursuit at the end of the game.

With this victory, Lotte laughed in the opening game for the first time in four years since it held the opening game against the Kiwoom Heroes on April 2, 2022.

On this day, Lotte formed the lineup in the order of Victor Reyes (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Jeon Joon-woo (left fielder), Yoo Kang-nam (possession), Noh Jin-hyuk (first baseman), Han Tae-yang (second baseman), Jeon Min-jae (striker), and Jang Doo-sung (midfielder). Elvin Rodriguez came forward as the starting pitcher.

Against this, Samsung formed the batting line in the order of Lee Jae-hyun (striker), Kim Sung-yoon (right wing), Koo Ja-wook (left wing), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Kang Min-ho (captor), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Kim Ji-chan (middle fielder). The starting pitcher is Ariel Furado.

Lotte took the first place. In the top of the first inning, leadoff hitter Reyes stepped down with a straight hit to right field, but No. 2 Son Ho-young succeeded in getting on base with a heavy hit. Here, Yoon Dong-hee hit Furado's 5 pitches (145km/h fastball) in an unfavorable ball count of 1 ball-2 strike and fired a superior two-run shot. It was the first arch of the KBO league this season. The flying distance of the ball was 113 meters. Lotte led 2-0 thanks to Yoon Dong-hee's first home run.

Lotte ran away in the top of the fourth inning. Leading hitter Roh Jin-hyuk succeeded in getting on base with a double that crossed the left field. Following Han Tae-yang's ground ball to second base, Roh Jin-hyuk went to third base. Here, Jeon Min-jae hit a sacrifice fly to left field. In the meantime, Roh Jin-hyuk homered and made it 3-0.

In the top of the seventh inning, Lotte even scored an extra point. Leading hitter Jeon Min-jae drew a walk against the changed Samsung pitcher Yuk Sun-yeop. Jang Doo-sung's sacrifice bunt led to a chance to score with one out and second base. Here, Reyes hit the fourth pitch (118km cutter) thrown by Yuk Sun-yeop with a 2 ball-1 strike and crossed the left-center fence. In the top of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Jeon Joon-woo's solo shot was added.

Samsung didn't stay put either. With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Choi Hyung-woo hit a heavy hit. Ryu Ji-hyuk stepped down as a mistake, but pinch hitter Su-ho recovered one point with a timely hit to the left-center field. After Lee Jae-hyun's hit and Kim Sung-yoon's double in the bottom of the ninth inning, he chased with Koo Ja-wook's two-run timely hit. Kim Young-woong and Park Se-hyuk both struck out and finished the game.

Lotte starter Rodriguez became the winning pitcher with two hits, four strikeouts, and five walks in five innings. Jeong Chul-won, Choi Jun-yong, Kyoyama, and Kim Won-joong, who took the mound, then kept the lead. In the lineup, Reyes hit hard with two hits, including a home run, and Yoon Dong-hee also completed a two-hit game, including the first two-run shot. Noh Jin-hyuk also had a multi-hit.

Samsung pitched well with seven hits (one home run) and three runs in six innings by starting pitcher Hurado, but unfortunately failed to avoid losing the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.