'0:0→2:2→4:5→6:5' Kim Woong-bin, who toppled Jo Byung-hyun on consecutive days! Kiwoom Heroes surge to a three-game winning streak with a thrilling ninth-inning comeback [Gocheok On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Kiwoom Heroes demonstrated terrifying resilience by dismantling SSG Landers' closer Jo Byung-hyun on consecutive days, securing a thrilling three-game winning streak.

On the 20th, Kiwoom defeated SSG 6-5 in a home game held at Gocheok Sky Dome, located in Guro-gu, Seoul.

For this game, SSG lined up Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), An Sang-hyun (third baseman), Lee Jung-beom (first baseman), Lee Ji-young (catcher), and Chae Hyun-woo (right fielder). The starting pitcher was foreign left-hander Benjamine.

In response, Kiwoom set its starting lineup as Seo Geon-chang (second baseman), An Chi-hong (designated hitter), Im Byung-wook (right fielder), Choi Ju-hwan (first baseman), Lee Hyung-jong (left fielder), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), Kim Geon-hee (catcher), Kwon Hyun-bin (shortstop), and Park Ju-hong (center fielder). The starting pitcher was right-hander Ha Young-min.

Kiwoom took the early lead. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Seo Geon-chang reached base on an error by opposing first baseman Lee Jung-beom, creating an opportunity. Although subsequent hitters An Chi-hong flew out to center field and Im Byung-wook struck out, seemingly ending the threat, Choi Ju-hwan calmly drew a walk, keeping the bases-loaded, two-out spark alive.

The hero who stepped in was Lee Hyung-jong. Lee Hyung-jong attacked the opposing pitcher and hit a clean two-run single to center field, bringing the runner home. Kiwoom took an early 1-0 lead.

SSG's counterattack was no less formidable. In the top of the second inning, leadoff hitter Heredia hit a powerful double down the left-center gap, immediately creating a scoring opportunity. Kim Jae-hwan struck out, swallowing his disappointment, but the next batter, An Sang-hyun, displayed focus. An Sang-hyun hit a two-run single to left field against Kiwoom's pitcher, bringing Heredia home from second base. SSG immediately tied the game 1-1, returning the match to square one.

It was once again Kiwoom's Lee Hyung-jong who broke the tense balance. In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Lee Hyung-jong stepped up to the plate. With a 1-ball, 1-strike count, he swung powerfully. Benjamine's third pitch, a 136 km/h changeup that came in flatly, was not missed. At the moment of contact, the ball was clearly a home run, flying into the left-field stands. It was a massive solo home run with a distance of 120 meters.

In the top of the fifth inning, SSG once again displayed focus. With two outs and no runners on base, Park Sung-han hit a powerful double down the right-center gap, immediately reaching scoring position.

SSG, seizing the tie opportunity, had subsequent hitter Jung Jun-jae step up as the hero. Jung Jun-jae attacked Ha Young-min and hit a large two-run triple. Meanwhile, runner Park Sung-han easily crossed home plate, making the score 2-2 and returning the game to a fierce stalemate once again.

In the top of the seventh inning, SSG opened the scoring when leadoff hitter Lee Jung-beom reached base on an infield single to the first baseman side after video review. SSG immediately inserted pinch runner Oh Tae-gon, and Lee Ji-young's sacrifice bunt created a one-out, second-base opportunity. Chae Hyun-woo then flew out to the second baseman, but Park Sung-han, after a persistent battle, drew a walk, continuing the two-out, bases-loaded opportunity.

Here, Jung Jun-jae, the hero of the fifth-inning tie hit, once again became the savior. Jung Jun-jae attacked the fifth pitch and hit a two-run single to left-center field, while runner Oh Tae-gon crossed home plate, allowing SSG to take a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the eighth inning, SSG opened the scoring when leadoff hitter Heredia hit a powerful double down the right-center gap. Kim Jae-hwan then flew out to center field, but runner Heredia advanced to third base, creating a one-out, third-base opportunity. An Sang-hyun, stepping up to the plate, hit Jo Young-geon's fifth pitch and launched a two-run single to left field. Runner Heredia easily crossed home plate, and SSG extended its lead to 4-2.

However, Kiwoom did not give up. In the bottom of the eighth inning, after two outs, Kim Woong-bin hit a single to left field, and Kim Geon-hee followed with a two-run home run over the left-center field wall, tying the score at 4-4. With a 2-ball, 2-strike count, Kim Geon-hee capitalized on a high forkball mistake from Noh Kyung-eun, sending the ball over the left-center fence. It was Kim Geon-hee's third home run of the season.

SSG appeared to be on the verge of victory in the top of the ninth inning, taking a 5-4 lead on Choi Ji-hoon's sacrifice fly. However, closer Jo Byung-hyun, who took the mound in the bottom of the ninth, could not withstand Kiwoom's persistent chase. In the final offensive inning, Kiwoom pressured SSG's pitcher with terrifying focus. Starting with a hit-by-pitch to Seo Geon-chang, Im Byung-wook also reached base, creating a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity where a single hit could tie or even take the lead.

Here, Choi Ju-hwan hit a two-run single against Jo Byung-hyun with a one-out, bases-loaded scoring opportunity. The score became 5-5, and the game once again became a roller coaster.

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*This content was translated by AI.