'Five-run lead, Choo Jun-yong enters with heavy rain' Lotte escapes last place! 'Jeon Min-jae grand slam → Na Seung-yeop consecutive hits' firepower on display, SSG falls into three-game losing streak [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants pushed SSG Landers into a three-game losing streak.

On the 16th, Lotte defeated SSG 10-6 in an away game against SSG at Incheon SSG Landers Field in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.' Trailing 0-2, Lotte scored five runs in the fifth inning alone to turn the game around and fend off a persistent comeback attempt.

With this victory, Lotte snapped its two-game losing streak, overtaking Kiwoom Heroes, which lost to Samsung Lions that day, and escaped from last place. Meanwhile, SSG failed to win for three consecutive games.

Lotte's lineup: Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Park Seung-wook (third baseman), Son Seong-bin (catcher), Jang Du-seong (right fielder). Starting pitcher was Kim Jin-wook.

Facing Lotte, SSG started with Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Jung (designated hitter), Heredia (left fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Kim Sung-wook (right fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and An Sang-hyun (third baseman). Starting pitcher was Kim Min-jun.

SSG took the early lead. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff batter Park Sung-han reached base with an infield single to first base. After Jung Jun-jae's fly ball to right field, Choi Jung hit a two-run home run to left field off Kim Jin-wook.

Lotte's counterattack came fiercely in the top of the fifth. Leadoff batter Hwang Sung-bin drew a walk after a grueling eight-pitch at-bat to open the inning. During Ko Seung-min's at-bat, a fielding error by the pitcher on a throw to first base allowed Hwang Sung-bin to advance to second base. Ko Seung-min was out on a bunt single to the shortstop, but Hwang Sung-bin reached third base.

Reyes then delivered a one-run single to left-center field, narrowing the gap. SSG brought in reliever Lee Run to replace Kim Min-jun during Han Dong-hee's at-bat to extinguish the threat. However, Han Dong-hee hit a single to right field, keeping the bases-loaded opportunity alive.

Na Seung-yeop then drew a walk to load the bases. Following him, Jeon Min-jae connected with Lee Run's first pitch, launching a massive 110-meter grand slam over the left-field fence. In an instant, Lotte completed a huge inning, scoring five runs in the top of the fifth alone.

SSG immediately began its comeback. Leadoff batter Jo Hyung-woo drew a walk, and An Sang-hyun's single to left field created a bases-empty opportunity with one out. On Park Sung-han's ground ball to the second baseman, runner An Sang-hyun was thrown out at second base, but Jo Hyung-woo advanced to third base, resulting in a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Jung Jun-jae then hit a one-run single to right field, scoring Jo Hyung-woo. SSG cut the deficit by one run and reignited its comeback hopes.

However, in the top of the seventh inning with one out and no runners on base, Na Seung-yeop hit a solo home run to left-center field off Kim Min, the fourth pitcher he faced, after a full-count battle with six pitches (130 km/h slider). This was Na Seung-yeop's fourth home run of the season.

In the top of the eighth inning, Lotte extended its lead further. After one out, Shin Yun-hoo drew a walk against Choi Yong-jun after a tense six-pitch at-bat, creating an opportunity. Ko Seung-min then hit a single to left-center field on the fifth pitch, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Third batter Reyes then came through as the hero, hitting a two-run double to left-center field, making the score 8-3. With Na Seung-yeop's consecutive two-run home runs, the score became 10-3.

SSG scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out and runners on first and second, but could not turn the game around. Lotte closed out the game with closer Choo Jun-yong in the bottom of the ninth inning despite a five-run lead. Although Choo Jun-yong allowed one run, he successfully maintained the lead.

Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook earned his fourth win (three losses) of the season with 5⅓ innings pitched, allowing seven hits (one home run), striking out five, walking two, and giving up three earned runs. Facing him, SSG starter Kim Min-jun took the loss after pitching 4⅓ innings, allowing four hits, walking five, and giving up two earned runs.

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*This content was translated by AI.