'Crazy SSG' LG in joint second place; even with 'sudden departure of top pitcher,' manager marvels at "veterans' performances" [Daejeon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Silently, they have climbed to second place.' SSG Landers secured a satisfying victory by leveraging the strength of their veterans.

On the 29th, SSG defeated the Hanwha Eagles 6-1 in an away game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

Breaking a two-game losing streak to improve their record to 16 wins and 10 losses, SSG rose to joint second place as the LG Twins lost to the KT Wiz on the same day.

It was not an easy game. Although they had won five consecutive games, they suffered a heavy 12-2 defeat against KT afterward, and the previous day, a collapse in their trusted relief bullpen led to a loss in extra innings. SSG manager Lee Seung-yong (55) said before the game, "We know that losing streaks often follow winning streaks, so we wanted to win quickly to reset, but it wasn't easy," expressing regret over the previous day's pitching strategy.

Taking the lead in place of Kim Kwang-hyun, who was sidelined for the season due to a shoulder injury, Oh Tae-gon (35), who assumed the role of new captain, stepped up. In the bottom of the second inning with one out and runners on first and second, he targeted the first pitch from Hwang Jun-seo, who was struggling with control, and launched a three-run home run to left field. Although Hwang Jun-seo had been having trouble with his pitching, Oh Tae-gon did not hesitate and took a bold swing, delivering a decisive hit early in the game that shifted the momentum.

Following that, Hwang Jun-seo collapsed, and SSG drew five additional walks to add two more runs, extending their lead to a comfortable five-run margin.

On the mound, Moon Seung-won (37) shouldered a heavy burden. Although SSG added another run in the top of the fifth, starting pitcher Mitch White complained of shoulder pain before the fifth inning, making it difficult for him to continue. Moon Seung-won stepped in to fill the gap.

He had also come out to extinguish the fire in the bottom of the eighth the previous day after Kim Min allowed runs due to consecutive hit-by-pitches and walks. On this day, he took the mound from the fifth inning in response to White's sudden injury.

SSG officials explained, "White felt tightness near his right shoulder, so he was replaced to protect the player."

Moon Seung-won allowed baserunners in every inning but shut down the game perfectly for three innings without any major crises. He threw 55 pitches, allowing just one hit, two walks, and recording three strikeouts over three scoreless innings. SSG held off the eighth inning with Lee I-ryeong and the ninth with Jang Ji-hoon. Moon Seung-won earned his first win of the season.

Manager Lee Seung-yong wore a bright smile. After the game, he credited the veterans for breaking the losing streak, stating, "The veterans' performances allowed us to end the losing streak." He specifically praised, "In the lineup, Oh Tae-gon laid the foundation for victory with an early three-run home run and additional RBIs. On the mound, Moon Seung-won, who entered in the fifth, stabilized the game and controlled the flow for three innings with steady performance."

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*This content was translated by AI.