'Missed Han Dong-hee, Overrun by Jeon Jun-woo' Errors Pile Up! Lotte Suffers 1-9 Defeat to Hanwha, Falling into 3-Game Losing Streak... 'Shock Effect' of Removing 4 First-Team Players Fails to Work [Busan On-the-Ground Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The shock effect of removing four first-team players from the roster on the same day had absolutely no impact. Lotte Giants fell into a three-game losing streak after committing multiple errors in their play.

On the 19th, Lotte lost 1-9 to Hanwha in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game held at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, with a total attendance of 23,200 spectators.

With this loss, Lotte, now trapped in a three-game losing streak, fell to ninth place with a record of 6 wins and 12 losses. Meanwhile, Hanwha, riding a two-game winning streak, improved to 8 wins and 10 losses, moving one step closer to a .500 winning percentage.

Prior to the game, Lotte removed four players from the first-team roster: starting right fielder Yoon Dong-hee (23), relief pitcher Jung Cheol-won (27), Masaya Kyoyama (28), and infielder Kim Min-seong (38). This was a measure taken due to their recent poor performance. However, it was difficult to see any change after just one game.

The outcome of the game was decided by concentration. While Hanwha methodically moved runners from first base to home plate to score a single run, Lotte surrendered the lead through consecutive errors, creating a significant gap. A representative moment occurred in the bottom of the 4th inning with Hanwha leading 2-0, one out, and a runner on first base. Jeon Jun-woo hit a ground ball single to right field but hesitated on whether to advance to second base. During that hesitation, Hanwha shortshin Sim Woo-jun intercepted the throw from the right fielder and threw to the empty first base, tagging out Jeon Jun-woo. The situation changed from a runner on first and third with one out to a runner on third with two outs.

Lotte was completely outmatched in the offensive battle. While Lotte managed only one run on scattered 8 hits, Hanwha delivered 15 hits, both long and short, at the right moments. Moon Hyun-bin led the lineup with 4 hits in 5 at-bats (1 home run), 4 RBIs, and 2 runs scored; Kang Baek-ho went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs; Lee Do-yoon went 3-for-5 with 1 RBI; and Sim Woo-jun went 2-for-3 with 1 walk and 2 runs scored.

Lotte also lost the pitching battle. Park Se-woong took the loss in his season debut, pitching 5 innings, allowing 7 hits (1 home run), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Hanwha's Willkel Hernandez earned his first win of the season, pitching 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and no earned runs, setting the stage for a turnaround.

On this day, Hanwha lined up its batting order as follows: Lee Won-seok (center field), Yonatan Ferraza (right field), Moon Hyun-bin (left field), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Chae Eun-seong (first base), Lee Do-yoon (second base), Kim Tae-yeon (third base), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Willkel Hernandez started on the mound.

Lotte countered with the following batting order: Hwang Seong-bin (center field), Noh Jin-hyeok (first base), Victor Reyes (left field), Han Dong-hee (third base), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (second base), Lee Ho-jun (shortstop), Son Seong-bin (catcher), and Jang Du-seong (center field). Park Se-woong started on the mound.

Hanwha attacked Lotte's mound from the start. In the top of the 1st inning, leadoff hitter Lee Won-seok reached base on a walk. Ferraza and Moon Hyun-bin struck out consecutively, and Lee Won-seok was caught at second base by catcher Son Seong-bin, failing to score.

However, in the top of the 2nd inning with two outs, Lee Do-yoon bunted for a hit, and Kim Tae-yeon singled to center field, creating another scoring opportunity. At that moment, Hwang Seong-bin attempted to throw to the infield, but Kim Tae-yeon boldly attempted to steal second base and succeeded. Additionally, Han Dong-hee failed to field a ground ball hit by Choi Jae-hoon, allowing Hanwha to take the lead.

Lotte continued to allow runs after two outs. In the top of the 3rd inning with two outs, Moon Hyun-bin powerfully hit a pitch from Park Se-woong on the inside corner, sending it over the right-field fence. This was Moon Hyun-bin's 4th home run of the season.

Lotte's offense was also chaotic. In the bottom of the 4th inning with one out and a runner on first base, Jeon Jun-woo hit a ground ball single to right field. However, while Jeon Jun-woo hesitated on whether to advance to second base, Hanwha shortstop Sim Woo-jun intercepted the throw from the right fielder and threw to first base, tagging out Jeon Jun-woo.

Strong defense also influenced the offense. In the top of the 5th inning, leadoff hitter Ferraza walked, and Moon Hyun-bin hit a ground ball single to right field, creating a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Kang Baek-ho then hit a two-run double to left-center field, driving in one run to make it 3-0.

In the top of the 6th inning, facing reliever Choi I-jun, Sim Woo-jun hit a two-run double to left-center field, Lee Won-seok singled to center field, and Ferraza hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in one run to extend the lead. Lotte's pitcher was changed to Park Se-jin, but nothing changed. Moon Hyun-bin hit a sacrifice fly to right field, and Kang Baek-ho hit a ground ball that deflected off the pitcher and rolled toward center field, driving in one run.

Park Se-jin was replaced by Park Jun-woo. However, Lee Do-yoon hit a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in one run, extending Hanwha's lead to 7-0. In the top of the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Moon Hyun-bin hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in two runs to seal the victory. Lotte could only manage to score one run in the bottom of the 8th inning with one out and runners on first and second, when pinch-hitter Park Seung-wook hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

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*This content was translated by AI.