Hwang Seong-bin explodes with 4 hits and 5 RBIs! Lotte sets new single-season records for most runs and most hits in a game, securing a 3-game winning streak against LG... 16-5 victory [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The runaway Lotte Giants leadoff hitter, Hwang Seong-bin, broke the momentum of the 3rd-game winning streak held by the LG Twins.

On the 12th, Lotte defeated LG 16-5 in an away game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season. With this win, Lotte improved to 24 wins, 1 tie, and 37 losses, moving further away from last place. LG, whose winning streak was halted, stands at 39 wins and 24 losses, pushing their chance to reach 40 wins to the next game.

It was impossible to speak of the victory without Hwang Seong-bin's performance. Starting as the leadoff hitter and center fielder, Hwang Seong-bin recorded 4 hits in 5 at-bats, 5 RBIs, 1 stolen base, and 2 runs scored, leading his team to victory. This also marked his career-high for RBIs in a single game. The previous record was 3 RBIs, achieved in four games: September 13, 2025, against SSG; August 6, 2025, against KIA; and the first and second games of the doubleheader on April 21, 2024, against KT. Coincidentally, all four of those games were home games; this was the first time he recorded 3 or more RBIs in an away game.

The most decisive moment came in the bottom of the 6th inning when Lotte led 4-0. Victor Reyes and Na Seung-yeop had recorded consecutive hits, and Jeon Min-jae reached base on a walk. Son Ho-young flew out to first base, and Choi Hang struck out, but Son Seong-bin and Jang Du-seong followed with consecutive sacrifice flies to keep the opportunity alive. Hwang Seong-bin then took Anders Tolhurst's sixth pitch, a high fastball, and sent it directly over the left-field foul line. It was a 3-RBI double that cleared the bases. Tolhurst, who had been strong for Lotte with a 0.73 ERA over two games prior to this match, could not hold on and was eventually removed.

On the mound, Elvin Rodriguez threw 107 pitches over 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and 1 earned run while recording 10 strikeouts, delivering a powerful performance. Offensively, besides Hwang Seong-bin, Victor Reyes went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored; Son Seong-bin went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 run scored; Na Seung-yeop went 2-for-5 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored; Jeon Min-jae went 1-for-3 with 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored; and Son Ho-young went 1-for-4 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored, all contributing to the team's victory.

Lotte amassed 17 hits and scored 16 runs, marking both the most hits and most runs in a single game this season. Previously, Lotte had recorded 16 hits against KT in Suwon on May 6, and scored 10 runs against SSG on May 1 and against NC on May 13.

LG's trusted foreign ace, Tolhurst, collapsed after pitching 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits (including 1 home run), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 7 earned runs, taking his fourth loss of the season (7 wins). Song Chan-ui, who had been hitting at a .467 average over his last 10 games, was substituted due to discomfort in his right hamstring during fielding, adding to LG's concerns.

For this game, Lotte lined up its batting order as follows: Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Go Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Choi Hang (designated hitter), Son Seong-bin (catcher), and Jang Du-seong (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Elvin Rodriguez.

In response, LG set its lineup as: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), Gu Bon-hyeok (third baseman), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Anders Tolhurst.

The lead was taken by the visiting team, Lotte. In the top of the 1st inning, leadoff hitter Hwang Seong-bin reached base with a hit to center-left field. Hwang Seong-bin immediately stole second base, advanced to third on Go Seung-min's ground ball to second, and scored easily on Reyes' fly ball to right field. Lotte took a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the 2nd inning, Jeon Min-jae hit a surprise home run, giving Lotte a 2-run lead. As the leadoff hitter, Jeon Min-jae hit a high pitch from Tolhurst over the left-field fence. It was his 6th home run of the season, traveling 119.7 meters.

Lotte staged a big inning in the bottom of the 6th. Leadoff hitter Reyes hit a single to left field, Na Seung-yeop hit a hit to center-left, and Jeon Min-jae drew a walk, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs. Although Son Ho-young and Choi Hang made outs, Son Seong-bin hit a 1-RBI single to right field, and Jang Du-seong added another run with an infield hit. Hwang Seong-bin then attacked Tolhurst's high fastball, hitting a 3-RBI double that swept the bases and sealed the game.

On the other hand, LG, which had been struggling, missed its chance to rally in the bottom of the 6th. Leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki drew a walk, Park Hae-min hit a single to right field, and Austin Dean drew a walk, creating a bases-loaded situation with no outs. However, Moon Bo-kyung struck out swinging, Oh Ji-hwan grounded out to shortstop, and Moon Sung-ju flew out to right field, managing to score only one run. LG trailed 1-7.

LG seized another opportunity in the bottom of the 7th. Against the new pitcher Park Jeong-min, leadoff hitter Park Dong-won reached base on a full-count walk. Lotte's pitcher was changed again to Hyun Do-hoon, and Gu Bon-hyeok grounded out, while Shin Min-jae drew a walk. With one out and runners on first and second, Hong Chang-ki's ground ball hit Hyun Do-hoon's glove and rolled toward right field. Meanwhile, the runner on second, Gu Bon-hyeok, scored, and the runner on first, Shin Min-jae, advanced to third.

Lotte's pitcher was changed again to Kim Won-joong, but Park Hae-min grounded out to first, and Austin Dean hit a 1-RBI single to left field, scoring two more runs. LG closed the gap to 4-7.

However, everything ended with Lotte's 8-run big inning in the top of the 8th. Leadoff hitter Son Ho-young drew a walk, Kim Se-min was thrown out on a fielder's choice, and Son Seong-bin drew a walk, creating a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Jang Du-seong grounded out for 1 RBI, then stole second base to load the bases with runners on second and third. Hwang Seong-bin then hit a 2-RBI single to left field.

LG substituted all its regulars, including Park Hae-min and Austin Dean, looking ahead to the next day. The new pitcher Kim Dae-hyun allowed consecutive 1-RBI singles to Reyes and Na Seung-yeop. After Jeon Min-jae drew a walk, Son Ho-young hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall. Even the substitute player Park Jae-yeop hit a 1-RBI single, widening the score to 16-4. LG managed to score only one run in the bottom of the 9th, ending their winning streak at three games.

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*This content was translated by AI.