'9 demotion times in 17 years' Kang Min-ho has no hits in 15 at-bats → 3 hits and 4 RBIs including the final hit! "I think I'll sleep comfortably after a long time."" [the site of a water source]

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions manager Park Jin-man (50)'s intention to adjust batting order worked properly. Kang Min-ho (41), who fell into a slump of 15 hits since the opening, led the team to victory with an explosive sense of hitting in the 9th batting order for the first time in 17 years.

Samsung beat KT Wiz 8-6 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season visit game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 4th. As a result, Samsung, which won four consecutive games, won four games, tied one and lost two games, and KT, which lost two consecutive games, won five games and lost two games.

There has been bad news for Samsung since the beginning. Right fielder Kim Sung-yoon was replaced in the bottom of the second inning due to discomfort in his left side, and shortstop Lee Jae-hyun was replaced in the bottom of the third inning due to right hamstring pain. Nevertheless, Samsung overwhelmed KT in terms of firepower by hitting 14 long and short hits. Among them, Kang Min-ho's performance was impressive.

Kang Min-ho had been silent with no hits in 15 at-bats in five games since the opening until the previous day (3rd). In such a slump, the head coach covered the oldest member of the team, citing Jang Jin-hyuk's second base steal as a decisive moment in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 2-1 lead the previous day.

Before the game, head coach Park Jin-man said, "Kang Min-ho is leading the team in defense, even if he can't attack right now. Yesterday (3rd), Kim Jae-yoon struck out well in the ninth inning, but he threw cold water on the opponent's bench and brought the atmosphere toward us as he stole second base. "The reason for the victory on the 3rd was because Kang Min-ho stopped stealing in the bottom of the ninth inning," he said.

At the same time, the batting order went down to No. 9, saving the team's batting lineup and relieving the burden. Kang Min-ho was the first and last in the starting lineup against Jamsil Doosan on June 5, 2009, when he was with the Lotte Giants. Kang Min-ho responded intensely to the belief. In his first batting order in 17 years, Kang Min-ho hit hard with three hits and four RBIs in four at-bats.

All the hits were nutritious. He hit a timely hit with two outs and a third base in the top of the fourth inning when he was losing 4-5, and decided the game with a timely two-run hit in the top of the eighth inning with one out and runners on the second and third bases.

Kang Min-ho, who met with reporters after the game, said, "I was comfortable at the batter's box and it was good to have a lot of timely hits," adding, "My brother and Ja-wook were very happy (with the last hit). Thanks to the support of many colleagues, I was able to do well. I'm going to unite until the end of the season and do well," he said, giving credit to his teammates.

Regarding the ceremony during the 8th inning's timely hit, he said, "Let's just hit it up to here." "The two hits in front of me are not important, and I just thought I should hit them here," he said.

Samsung, which had been classified as a favorite along with the LG Twins with the addition of Choi Hyung-woo, unexpectedly fell behind Lotte and started the season with two consecutive losses. However, he quickly reversed the mood by winning four consecutive games after one draw. One of the opponents was KT, which had its opening five consecutive wins, which further heightened the atmosphere.

Kang Min-ho said, "Lotte's batting lineup was so good during the opening two consecutive games. The season is still long and we're playing baseball after that, so I don't really care (for the second consecutive win). I'm just going to enjoy it until the end of the pennant race," he said.

Samsung's performance on the day was exactly what head coach Park Jin-man said before the game. Manager Park Jin-man said, "Before the opening of the season, we said we were the team of hitting, but now we are the team of pitchers. "I'm blocking him well with my pitching ability," he joked.

After hearing this, Kang Min-ho said, "I think that's the way to the strong team. When the pitcher is struggling, the fielder gives strength, and when the fielder is struggling, the pitcher prevents him, he said with strength, adding, "I feel really good." I think I can sleep comfortably after a long time," he said with a big smile.

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*This content was translated by AI.