"If they can't hit well at 3 and 4..." Manager Lee Sung-yong's sigh, Jeon Ui-san moved to 4th, Kim Jae-hwan to 5th, and Heredia to 6th [Incheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"If they can't hit well at 3 and 4, we won't be able to manage the game."

Lee Sung-yong (55), manager of the SSG Landers, let out a deep sigh. The team had recorded 12 hits and 3 walks the previous day but managed only one run, falling into a painful four-game losing streak.

On the 17th, SSG suffered a 1-2 defeat against Lotte Giants in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held at Incheon SSG Landers Field.

Although the team managed to escape a 13-game losing streak, it has continued to struggle since then. Over the last 10 games, the team has recorded only two wins and eight losses, narrowing the gap with 9th-place Lotte to just 0.5 games. If the team suffers a sweep today and extends its losing streak to five games, it could drop to 9th place.

Before the game on the 18th, Manager Lee Sung-yong met with reporters and reflected on the previous day's match. "We had several chances in the late innings, but the heart of the lineup has no excuse. The players who should have hit did not. If they can't hit well at 3 and 4, we won't be able to manage the game. Choi Ji-hun at 9th did a good job of creating chances, but we couldn't capitalize on them, making it difficult to win," he said.

The lineup managed only one run despite recording 12 hits the previous day. They failed to take advantage of opportunities in the 7th inning with one out and runners on second and third, as well as in the 9th inning with one out and runners on first and third. The silence of the heart of the lineup every time a chance arose was painful.

Ultimately, it comes down to the players who must deliver. Manager Lee stated, "They may have felt pressure, but players like Choi Jung, Kim Jae-hwan, and Heredia should always carry that burden. It is their job to deliver," offering a stern remark.

In a situation where victory was crucial, SSG made a small change to its lineup. Against right-handed pitcher Alvin Rodriguez, SSG arranged its batting order as follows: Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Jung (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (left fielder), Guillermo Heredia (right fielder), Go Myeong-jun (third baseman), Choi Ji-hun (center fielder), and Shin Beom-soo (catcher). The starting pitcher was Shota Takeda.

Jeon Ui-san, who recently completed his military service and has been hitting with a 0.341 batting average in 13 games, continued his strong form with three hits the previous day and was moved up to the 4th spot today.

Manager Lee said, "I think we had to think a lot about the 4th hitter. Jeon Ui-san has the best balance, so he was placed at 4th. Go Myeong-jun's balance is also improving, so I think both players should be in the heart of the lineup. That's why he is batting 4th today, and I want to see if he feels the burden of the 4th spot and how he handles it."

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*This content was translated by AI.