'Out-out-out' Samsung's eight-game winning streak halted by Park Hae-min! LG survives with a 5-3 victory [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The seemingly unstoppable eight-game winning streak of the Samsung Lions came to a standstill before just one player, Park Hae-min (36).

On the 13th, LG defeated Samsung 5-3 in a regular-season home game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, LG, which had been held to three consecutive losses, improved to 23 wins and 15 losses, overtaking Samsung (22 wins, 1 tie, 15 losses) whose eight-game winning streak was stopped, and moving back into second place.

It was Park Hae-min's one-man show from start to finish. Park Hae-min dominated the early momentum by leaping to catch fly balls from Choi Hyung-woo and Lewin Diaz heading toward the center-field fence in the top of the 1st inning. Among these, the highlight came in the top of the 8th inning with two outs and a runner on third base while Samsung was trailing 3-4. Koo Ja-wook's powerful hit off Bae Jae-jun's high fastball soared again toward the Jamsil Baseball Stadium fence, where a famous franchise pizza advertisement is displayed.

However, Park Hae-min chased the ball to the end, changed his arm angle, and made the catch, preserving the one-run lead. The expressions of Diaz and Koo Ja-wook, staring in awe at Park Hae-min's god-like center-field defense, were captured on the broadcast screen, conveying the players' sense of helplessness.

In the pitching duel, LG secured a decision victory. LG's Anders Tolhurst pitched six innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven and giving up one earned run, earning his fifth win (two losses) of the season. Samsung's Won Tae-in pitched six innings, allowing nine hits, no walks, and five strikeouts while giving up four earned runs, recording his third loss (one win) of the season. Additionally, Kim Jin-seong entered the game in the top of the 8th inning with two outs and bases loaded, retiring the side on just two pitches to contribute to the victory.

Park Hae-min also shone at the plate. Batting leadoff, Park Hae-min went 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Shin Min-jae went 3-for-2 with two runs scored, and Hong Chang-ki went 2-for-1 with one walk, reaching base multiple times to boost the team's batting momentum. Oh Ji-hwan delivered a crucial hit in the bottom of the 8th inning, going 4-for-1 with one home run and two RBIs.

For Samsung, Kang Min-ho, who returned to the first division after ten days, went 3-for-2 with two RBIs. However, other batters struggled with only three hits, dimming their overall performance.

Samsung's lineup for the day was Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Park Seung-kyu (center fielder), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), and Kang Min-ho (catcher). The starting pitcher was Won Tae-in.

In response, LG's lineup was Park Hae-min (center fielder), Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman), Cheon Seong-ho (first baseman), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), and Hong Chang-ki (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Anders Tolhurst.

Park Hae-min was the protagonist in the early stages of the game. He first dominated with his defense. In the top of the 1st inning with one out and a runner on first base, Park Hae-min leaped to catch a large fly ball from Choi Hyung-woo and Diaz that headed toward the center-field fence.

Immediately, in the bottom of the 1st inning as the leadoff batter, Park Hae-min reached base with a single to left field despite an unfavorable 1-ball-2-strike count. He advanced to third base on Koo Bon-hyuk's single to center field and scored on Cheon Seong-ho's large double to center field that cleared the center-fielder's head. Later, on Oh Ji-hwan's ground ball, Koo Bon-hyuk, who was on third base, also scored, giving LG a 2-0 lead.

In the next at-bat, he drove in a run himself. In the bottom of the 2nd inning with two outs and a runner on second base, Park Hae-min crushed Won Tae-in's inside curveball for a two-run single to right field. The subsequent failed steal of second base was a minor blemish.

In the 5th inning, both teams exchanged one run each. In the top of the 5th inning with one out and a runner on first base, Kang Min-ho hit a double to left-center field, narrowing the gap by one run. However, in the bottom of the 5th inning, Shin Min-jae and Hong Chang-ki recorded consecutive hits, and on a ground ball by Koo Bon-hyuk with one out and runners on second and third base created by Park Hae-min's sacrifice bunt, LG gave up one run, extending their lead to 4-1.

Samsung attacked the LG mound after Tolhurst was relieved, keeping the outcome uncertain until the end. With LG leading 4-1, Jeon Byeong-woo and Ryu Ji-hyuk reached base on hit-by-pitches in the top of the 7th inning. Lee Jae-hyun's fly ball to right field resulted in one out and runners on first and third base. Kang Min-ho then hit a one-run double to left field, and a ground ball by Kim Ji-chan added another run, bringing Samsung within one run at 3-4.

Here, Park Hae-min soared once again. He caught Koo Ja-wook's fly ball that headed toward the center-field fence with a leaping catch, ending the inning. Later, in the bottom of the 8th inning with one out, Oh Ji-hwan added another run with a solo home run over the fence. In the top of the 9th inning, closer Son Ju-young retired the side in order, signaling a smooth start.

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*This content was translated by AI.