"We are all captains," Park Seung-wook's single remark awakened them! How Lotte erased the shock of six first-division roster withdrawals to break a three-game losing streak [Gwangju on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

A pre-game remark by Lotte Giants veteran Park Seung-wook (34) awakened the dormant giant.

On the 3rd, Lotte defeated KIA 8-3 in a regular-season away game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this victory, Lotte broke its three-game losing streak and improved its record to 22 wins, 1 tie, and 31 losses. Meanwhile, KIA, which split its two games (1 win, 1 loss), remained in fourth place with 29 wins, 1 tie, and 26 losses.

Before the game, Lotte removed six players from its first-division roster: first-division pitching coach Kim Sang-jin, first-division battery coach Baek Yong-hwan, captain Jeon Jun-woo, Jung Cheol-won, Yu Gangnam, and Kim Dong-hyun. They were replaced by Futures League pitching coach Kim Hyun-wook, Futures League battery coach Yong Deok-han, Jeong Bo-geun, Jo Se-jin, Choi Hang, and Lee Jin-ha. The previous day (the 2nd), Lotte had missed a winnable game due to unfortunate defensive errors and needed a morale boost.

Just before the game, players were seen forming a circle in front of the Lotte dugout, talking to one another. According to Kim Jin-wook after the game, it appeared to be a somewhat routine gathering urging aggressive offense. However, from Hwang Seong-bin, who led off with 5 at-bats, 3 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases, and 1 run, scattering the opposing infield, we could hear more detailed insights.

Hwang Seong-bin said, "First, I am happy that the team won. Even though the atmosphere could have been chaotic, every team member gave their all to win. Although we were without veteran seniors, our efforts to demonstrate teamwork and focus on the game led to a good result and a victory."

He continued, "During the pre-game team meeting, senior Park Seung-wook said in front of everyone, 'Let us all think of ourselves as the team's captain and approach the game with responsibility.' We all resonated with that message, kept it in mind, and entered the game with it, which was a great help."

Inspired by that confidence-boosting remark, the Lotte players seized the initiative from the start with well-coordinated pitching and hitting. On the mound, starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook delivered a quality start (QS: 6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs), allowing 3 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts over 6 innings while giving up 3 earned runs, securing his third win (3 losses). In contrast, KIA's Hwang Dong-ha failed to do his part, allowing 6 hits (1 home run), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts over 3 innings while surrendering 5 runs (4 earned), recording his first loss of the season (5 wins, 1 hold).

The bullpen also pitched well. Park Jeong-min, Kim Won-jung, and Hyun Do-hun each took the mound for one inning. Park Jeong-min, despite allowing a double, threw out Kim Ho-ryeong's steal of third base with a pickoff throw, dousing the KIA dugout's momentum. Kim Won-jung retired the KIA core lineup of Adelin Rodriguez, Kim Do-young, and Na Sung-beom on just seven pitches, and Hyun Do-hun closed out the game with a perfect inning.

In the lineup, whenever the leadoff batter reached base through the eighth inning, it consistently led to a run, creating a virtuous cycle. In addition to Hwang Seong-bin, Victor Reyes and Na Seung-yeop each recorded 1 hit and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats, delivering timely hits when needed. Han Tae-yang went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 run, including a go-ahead hit. Jo Se-jin, called up that day, hit his first home run in his 99th career at-bat after four years in the league. Park Seung-wook, who was not included in the starting lineup due to a left neck strain, entered as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning and pitched 2 innings with great determination, becoming a major source of strength for the team before and after the game.

After the game, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "Starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook delivered an efficient performance with a quality start. It was a pitch that laid the foundation for today's victory. The relievers who followed also did their part." He added, "Thanks to the fielders' focus early in the game, including Hwang Seong-bin, we were able to take an early lead and control the game. We were able to secure the win today because we scored additional runs when needed in the middle and late innings."

Despite it being a weekday game, many Lotte fans visited Gwangju-Kia Champions Field to wish for the end of the losing streak. As a result, KIA achieved its 15th sellout of the season, filling 25,000 seats for five consecutive games. The manager has not forgotten this.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung conveyed his sincere gratitude: "Even though it was an away game on a weekday, the fans filled the stands. I truly thank them. We will prepare thoroughly for tomorrow's game and finish the weekday series well."

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*This content was translated by AI.