'With' Hanwha, that's why they poured money into FA investments! '10 billion won two-run homer + 5 billion won game-ending defensive gem in the 9th with two outs' Heo In-seo shone as brightly as his debut 10 home runs... SSG's shocking franchise-record 10-game losing streak

*This content was translated by AI.

The Hanwha Eagles pushed the SSG Landers into a 10-game losing streak, recovering their winning percentage to .500. In particular, Heo In-seo, who has grown into the team's home-field ace, reached the milestone of his first double-digit home runs in his fourth professional season. Additionally, the players acquired through free agency (FA) perfectly fulfilled their roles at critical moments.

On the 29th, Hanwha secured a 4-3 victory in their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against SSG at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, led by strong pitching from starter Owen White and concentrated hitting from the lineup.

With this win, Hanwha, on a two-game winning streak, improved their season record to 25 wins and 25 losses, firmly holding onto sole fifth place. Meanwhile, SSG fell into a 10-game losing streak after their game against the Incheon LG Twins on the 17th. With a record of 22 wins, 1 tie, and 28 losses, SSG remained in seventh place.

SSG had already broken their franchise record for the most consecutive losses since Shinsegae Group acquired the team in 2021 (previously 8 consecutive losses in May 2024). Including their predecessor era as the SK Wyverns, this marks their first 10-game losing streak in 2,089 days. Including the SK era, the team's all-time record for consecutive losses is 11 games (in 2000 and 2020).

On this day, SSG started with Choi Min-jun. The batting order was Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Kim Min-sik (catcher), and Ahn Sang-hyun (third baseman).

In response, Hanwha started with Owen White. The batting order was Lee Won-seok (center fielder), Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop).

The early part of the game was a tight pitching duel. Neither team managed a single hit through the third inning. Even in the fourth inning, the score remained 0-0, but Hanwha broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth with one powerful hit. The hero was none other than Heo In-seo. Leadoff hitter Noh Si-hwan reached base with a hit to left-center field. Following him, Heo In-seo, with a 2-1 count, attacked the fourth slider and launched a two-run homer over the left-field wall.

This was Heo In-seo's 10th home run of the season, his first since the game against KT Wiz on the 16th, 13 days prior. Heo In-seo, who joined Hanwha as the 11th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 rookie draft, recorded his first double-digit home run total since his professional debut. Heo In-seo played in only 8 games in the 2022 season and 20 games in the 2025 season up until last year, but this year he has fully unleashed his potential.

SSG did not give up easily. In the top of the sixth with two outs, Park Sung-han hit a double that dropped just inside the right-field line, breaking Owen White's no-hit bid. Following him, Jung Jun-jae, batting next, hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring one run to narrow the gap.

Hanwha immediately responded in the bottom of the sixth, adding two more runs. Once again, a powerful hit erupted. SSG had replaced starter Choi Min-jun with Jeon Young-jun. With one out, Moon Hyun-bin drew a walk. The pitcher was then replaced by Lee Ro-un. Following him, Kang Baek-ho, with a 3-1 count, hit the fifth changeup and launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall. This was Kang Baek-ho's 12th home run of the season.

SSG launched another comeback attempt. In the top of the seventh with two outs, Choi Ji-hoon recorded a triple to left-center field. Following him, Oh Tae-gon attacked a high fastball inside from White and launched a two-run homer (his 6th of the season) over the left-field wall. The score was now 4-3, narrowing the gap to one run. Although White allowed the home run, he had controlled the mound through the seventh inning before being relieved. In the end, his final line as the winning pitcher was 7 innings, 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs.

Hanwha began protecting their one-run lead starting in the eighth inning by using their relief pitchers. In the eighth, Park Sang-won took the mound and recorded a strikeout against Ahn Sang-hyun, a catcher's foul fly out against Park Sung-han, and a groundout to first base against Jung Jun-jae.

In the ninth, Lee Min-woo took over the mound. Lee Min-woo allowed a hit to left field against leadoff hitter Heredia. The next batter was Kim Jae-hwan. It was not a bunt but a full swing, resulting in a fly out to right field. Lee Min-woo then caught Han Yu-seom on a pop fly to left field on the first pitch. The next batter, Choi Ji-hoon, drew a walk on the seventh pitch, creating a two-out opportunity with runners on first and second.

Then Oh Tae-gon, who had just hit a home run, stepped up to the plate. The first pitch was a ball. With good timing, Oh Tae-gon saw the second cutter coming right down the middle and swung immediately. The well-hit ball shot quickly toward the shortstop. It was a hit-worthy ball. Hanwha's shortstop was Sim Woo-jun. Sim Woo-jun, with agile, animal-like reflexes, cleanly fielded the ball that bounced just in front of him. He then quickly threw to second base to end the game. Choi Ji-hoon, heading for second base, threw his helmet to the ground, expressing immense frustration. In the end, it was a game where the decisive performances of '10 billion won FA' Kang Baek-ho and '5 billion won FA' Sim Woo-jun shone side by side.

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*This content was translated by AI.