'Dizzy Hit-by-Pitch' Worries for Go Myeong-jun and Jo Hyung-woo Alleviated by Choi Ji-hoon and Choi Jung's 'Home Run Guns'... SSG Secures 3-Game Winning Streak and Jumps to Sole 4th Place [Pro Baseball Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Although a dizzying hit-by-pitch occurred for Go Myeong-jun and Jo Hyung-woo, the worst-case scenario was avoided. SSG Landers then surged to a three-game winning streak.

On the 18th, SSG secured an 11-3 victory over NC Dinos in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held at Changwon NC Park.

Having fallen into a six-game losing streak, SSG has now ridden a three-game winning streak to record 10 wins and 7 losses, overtaking the KIA Tigers (10 wins, 8 losses), who lost that day, by 0.5 games to leap into sole 4th place. Meanwhile, NC, who fell into a three-game losing streak, recorded 7 wins and 10 losses, tying for 6th place alongside Hanwha Eagles, who won that day.

SSG lined up its batting order as follows: Park Seong-han (shortstop), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Choi Jung (third baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Go Myeong-jun (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Kim Sung-wook (right fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Jeong Jun-jae (second baseman). Kim Geon-woo was the starting pitcher.

NC countered with Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Matt Davidson (designated hitter), Park Geon-woo (right fielder), Lee Woo-sung (left fielder), Shin Jae-in (first baseman), Seo Ho-cheol (third baseman), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), and Choi Jung-won (center fielder). Curtis Taylor made the starting appearance.

NC struck first. After Choi Jung-won was hit by a pitch and Kim Ju-won drew a walk in the bottom of the 3rd inning, a wild pitch by Kim Geon-woo allowed both runners to advance one base. When Park Min-woo hit a ground ball single to center field, both runners scored.

SSG's lineup immediately put pressure on Kim Geon-woo. With one out, Choi Jung and Kim Jae-hwan drew consecutive walks to load the bases, and Choi Ji-hoon did not miss a pitch inside by Taylor. He smashed a changeup, sending a three-run, go-ahead home run over the right-field fence. It was his fourth home run of the season.

Taylor wavered. He allowed consecutive hit-by-pitches to Kim Sung-wook and Jo Hyung-woo, eventually handing the ball to Jeon Min. Jeon Jun-jae added a one-run, sacrifice hit that rolled toward left field.

In the 5th inning, Choi Jung hit a solo home run over the center-field wall against Lim Jimin, extending the lead. This was his third home run of the season, increasing his all-time KBO home run record to 521.

SSG starter Kim Geon-woo allowed runs in the 3rd inning but held the line steadily in the 4th and 5th innings. He also appeared in the 6th, striking out Davidson and inducing a flyout to right field from Park Geon-woo, but surrendered a solo home run to Lee Woo-sung. With the score at 5-3, he handed the ball to Kim Min.

In the top of the 8th inning, leadoff batter Oh Tae-gon reached base on a hit-by-pitch. During a ground ball hit by Choi Ji-hoon, a fielding error by the second baseman allowed the runner to advance to third base. As Kim Sung-wook hit a ground ball to the shortstop, the runner headed for home. A wild pitch followed, allowing SSG to score another run.

The momentum completely shifted in the 9th inning. With consecutive hits from Park Seong-han and Heredia and a walk by Choi Jung, SSG created a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity. Kim Jae-hwan, who had been hitless in four consecutive games, delivered a two-run, sacrifice hit to left field, followed by a one-run, sacrifice hit from Oh Tae-gon. Han Yu-seom, who entered as a pinch hitter, added a one-run sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 11-3 and solidifying the victory.

Go Myeong-jun was hit by a pitch near his left wrist while swinging in the top of the 2nd inning and complained of pain before being substituted. Jo Hyung-woo was hit by a pitch on his left chest in the 4th at-bat and was replaced by Lee Ji-young, who took over the catcher's mask before the bottom of the 4th inning.

The team continued its winning streak. According to SSG club officials, neither Jo Hyung-woo nor Go Myeong-jun showed signs of a fracture. However, both are scheduled to undergo re-examination on the 19th for a precise diagnosis.

SSG activated its iron-clad bullpen from the bottom of the 6th inning with two outs. Kim Min (1 inning), Noh Gyeong-eun (1/3 inning), Lee Run, and Jeon Young-jun (both 1 inning) each pitched scoreless and clean innings in succession, shutting down the NC lineup.

Kim Geon-woo threw 91 pitches over 5 2/3 innings, recording 3 hits allowed (1 home run), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs, securing his second win of the season.

In the lineup, the performances of Choi Ji-hoon (2 hits, 3 RBIs) and Choi Jung (1 hit, 3 walks, 1 RBI, 3 runs scored), who both hit home runs, stood out. Choi Jung recorded a hit in 15 consecutive games, and Kim Jae-hwan delivered a crucial sacrifice hit in the 9th inning, further strengthening the weight of the middle-order lineup.

NC starter Taylor threw 72 pitches over 3 2/3 innings, allowing 2 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 4 earned runs, falling into a two-game losing streak after his first win.

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*This content was translated by AI.