'Shock': Samsung's seven-game losing streak deepens as Kiwoom sweeps three straight games! 'Debut' starter Park Jun-hyun earns five-inning scoreless victory [Gocheok on-site review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kiwoom Heroes swept all three weekend games against Samsung Lions. On the day of Park Byung-ho's (40) retirement ceremony, Kiwoom truly celebrated. Meanwhile, Samsung suffered a crushing seven-game losing streak due to its abysmal hitting.

On the 26th, Kiwoom defeated Samsung 2-0 in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul.

With this victory, Kiwoom secured its first series sweep of the season and completed a three-game winning streak. In contrast, Samsung failed to win for seven consecutive games.

Kiwoom set its starting lineup in the following order: Park Ju-hong (right fielder), Brooks (left fielder), An Chi-hong (designated hitter), Park Byung-ho (first baseman), Kim Geon-hee (catcher), Kim Ji-seok (third baseman), Park Soo-jong (center fielder), Song Ji-hoo (second baseman), and Oh Seon-jin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was 'rookie right-hander' Park Jun-hyun. Park Byung-ho, registered as a 'special entry,' was substituted for Brooks immediately after the first pitch and left the game.

Samsung countered with a lineup of Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Park Seung-gyu (right fielder), Diaz (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Heon-gon (left fielder), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Kim Do-hwan (catcher), and Sim Jae-hoon (shortstop). The starting pitcher was 'rookie' right-hander Jang Chan-hee.

Contrary to what one might expect from a matchup of rookie starters, the game unfolded as a pitchers' duel. The balance remained tight until the bottom of the third inning, when Kiwoom broke through first. With one out, Song Ji-hoo hit a two-base hit to left field off Jang Chan-hee. Next, Oh Seon-jin also hit an RBI two-base hit down the left-center gap to take an early lead.

Samsung, which failed to score in a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the bottom of the second inning, attempted a comeback but could not generate any runs. Kiwoom's starter Park Jun-hyun held them shut out through five innings, and even in the top of the seventh with two outs and runners on second and scoring position, no RBI hit materialized. Kiwoom, in turn, squandered a bases-loaded, two-out opportunity in the bottom of the seventh. Samsung then also failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded, two-out situation in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kiwoom's leadoff batter An Chi-hong drew a walk. Following Im Ji-yeol's sacrifice bunt, the team advanced to a runner on second with one out, and Kim Geon-hee then hit an RBI single to left-center, extending the lead to 2-0. Ultimately, Kiwoom, which did not allow a single run through nine innings, secured the victory. After two outs, Samsung's Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a triple, but the run still did not score.

Kiwoom's pitchers performed exceptionally well. Starting pitcher Park Jun-hyun pitched five innings, allowing four hits, striking out four, walking four, and remaining scoreless, earning the win. Won Jong-hyun, Kim Sung-jin, Park Jeong-hoon, and Yuto, who entered from the sixth inning onward, all prevented any runs from scoring and successfully maintained the lead. Among Kiwoom's batters, Oh Seon-jin contributed to the team's victory with two hits in three at-bats and one RBI.

Samsung's starter Jang Chan-hee performed well in his 'opener' role, pitching three innings, allowing three hits, striking out four, walking one, and surrendering one run. However, his teammates failed to score even a single run, leaving their heads bowed. Kim Heon-gon recorded three hits, and Choi Hyung-woo had one hit and two walks, completing a three-on-base game, but they could not stop the seven-game losing streak.

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*This content was translated by AI.