8th Inning 'Heredia Dramatic Equalizer' → 'Captain' Oh Tae-gon Finally Closes It Out, SSG Ends 13-Game Losing Streak [Incheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Successive excellent defensive plays unfolded, and scenes tinged with luck seemed to be aided by the sky. SSG Landers, which had trailed throughout the game, finally seized the opportunity. By creating dramatic situations one after another in the late stages of the game, they snapped their tiresome losing streak.

SSG secured a thrilling 5-4 comeback victory against Kiwoom Heroes at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 3rd in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game, thanks to Guillermo Heredia's two-run tying home run in the bottom of the 8th and Oh Tae-gon's walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th.

The team finally broke its franchise-record 14-game losing streak, adding a precious victory 18 days after the match against LG Twins on the 16th of last month. They now hold a record of 23 wins, 31 losses, and 1 tie. Meanwhile, Kiwoom recorded 21 wins, 35 losses, and 1 tie, remaining in last place.

SSG lined up Park Sung-han (shortstop), Oh Tae-gon (right fielder), Choi Jeong (third baseman), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Kim Sung-wook (center fielder), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Jung Jun-jae (second baseman) for the lineup today.

Excluding Choi Ji-hoon, the team placed recently called-up players Jeon Ui-san and Kim Sung-wook in the starting lineup. They took the field with the mission of supporting Baek Seung-geon, who was making a temporary start.

Kiwoom countered with Seo Geon-chang (second baseman), An Chi-hong (first baseman), Keston Hiura (designated hitter), Lee Hyung-jong (right fielder), Choo Jae-hyun (left fielder), Yeo Dong-wook (third baseman), Kim Geon-hee (catcher), Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop), and Park Chae-wool (center fielder). Kenny Rosenberg made the starting pitching appearance.

The first inning saw a sharp divergence in fortunes between the two teams. SSG's temporary starter Baek Seung-geon surrendered a hit to Seo Geon-chang and walks to Hiura and Lee Hyung-jong, putting him in a bases-loaded, one-out crisis. However, Baek Seung-geon then fielded a ground ball hit by Choo Jae-hyun himself and threw to home plate to retire the runner. Choi Jeong cleanly handled a tricky third baseman's ground ball hit by Yeo Dong-wook, allowing the inning to end without conceding a run.

In the following bottom of the 1st, Choi Jeong crushed Rosenberg's 128 km/h changeup with a 0-2 count, launching a solo home run to deep center field for the lead. It was his 14th home run of the season. Following his home run in the 8th inning against Kiwoom two days ago, this marked his 11th consecutive at-bat home run of the season and his 31st career consecutive at-bat home run, solidifying his record as the all-time leader in consecutive at-bat home runs. Among active players, only Kim Jae-hwan (SSG) and Na Sung-bum (KIA), both with 14, trail him by more than double.

However, the pitching staff collapsed. After allowing consecutive walks to Kim Geon-hee and Kwon Hyuk-bin in the top of the 2nd, the SSG bench quickly moved, calling up Choi Yong-jun. Yet, after Park Chae-wool's sacrifice bunt, Seo Geon-chang hit a triple that swept the bases, giving Kiwoom a 2-1 lead. Seo Geon-chang recorded his first triple in 718 days since his game against Suwon KT on June 15, 2024 (while playing for KIA).

The inning did not end there. With two outs and a runner on third, Hiura connected with Choi Yong-jun's first pitch, a 144 km/h fastball, sending it over the left-field fence for a 130-meter two-run home run. Hiura, who hit his debut home run the previous day, drew an arc in consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Rosenberg delivered a solid pitching performance, holding the line without allowing a run through the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 6th, with SSG trailing 1-4, luck favored them. Park Sung-han reached base with a hit to center field, and Oh Tae-gon's ground ball hit the edge of the infield grass, resulting in an irregular bounce. Second baseman Seo Geon-chang failed to field it, and the ball rolled toward right field.

Following Oh Tae-gon's fly ball to right field, the runner on third, Park Sung-han, tagged up and scored comfortably. During Kiwoom's relay play, the ball was not caught immediately and bounced up. Oh Tae-gon, who was rushing to second base, hurriedly returned to first base, narrowly avoiding being called out in that situation as well. Despite video review, the call remained safe, allowing SSG to exhale in relief.

Oh Tae-gon subsequently stole second base, and Kim Jae-hwan drew a walk, creating a bases-loaded, two-out opportunity. Kiwoom then replaced their pitcher with Yuto. SSG substituted Choi Ji-hoon for Kim Sung-wook, who had no hits that day. After a full-count battle, Choi Ji-hoon's hit was caught by the first baseman's glove. The inning ended without adding a run. With luck also on their side, this was a missed opportunity that left SSG with lingering regret.

SSG, which could not afford to retreat, brought in Noh Kyung-eun, who had recovered from injury and returned to the team, to cleanly finish the defensive effort in the top of the 8th.

They seized another opportunity. In the bottom of the 8th, Oh Tae-gon's line drive hit third baseman Kim Woong-bin's glove and rolled toward left field, starting on a promising note. Choi Jeong's weak hit went toward the pitcher, but Park Ji-sung threw to first base, allowing the runner to advance.

With one out and a runner on second, Heredia stepped up to the plate and delivered. After a full count, he swung hard at Park Ji-sung's 120 km/h high changeup, sending the ball soaring over the left-field fence for a two-run tying home run (his 8th of the season).

Kim Jae-hwan was ruled hit by pitch after video review confirmed the ball struck his toe, and he advanced to first base. However, pinch-runner Chae Hyun-woo was thrown out attempting to steal second base, and Kim Jeong-min flew out to center field, failing to complete the comeback and leaving further regret.

In the top of the 9th, SSG brought in closer Jo Byeong-hyun. After walking leadoff hitter Lee Hyung-jong, he recorded a strikeout looking against Kim Woong-bin and retired the lead runner on a ground ball to second baseman Im Byeong-wook, appearing to catch his breath. However, he allowed a pitcher's infield hit to Kim Geon-hee and a straight fastball walk to pinch-hitter Choi Ju-hwan, resulting in a bases-loaded, two-out situation.

Park Soo-jong entered as a pinch-hitter. Jo Byeong-hyun started with a ball on the first pitch but then delivered a bold pitch that induced a swing-and-miss strikeout, passing the opportunity to the Kiwoom lineup in the bottom of the 9th.

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*This content was translated by AI.