'Son Seong-bin is crazy' debuts with four hits in first game + fantastic 9th-inning double play pickoff! Go Seung-min's bases-loaded home run drives in six runs; Lotte defeats LG 11-9 to secure winning series [Busan on-site review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Lotte Giants lineup, which had struggled with batting average throughout June, exploded. Catcher Son Seong-bin (24) recorded his first four-hit game in six years since his debut, while Go Seung-min (26) drove in six runs including a bases-loaded home run, leading the team to a decisive victory.

On the 28th, Lotte defeated LG 11-9 in a regular-season home game at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this result, Lotte secured a winning series with two wins and one loss. Their overall record stands at 32 wins, two ties, and 41 losses, maintaining a two-game lead over the seventh-place NC Dinos (35 wins, one tie, 39 losses), who also won on the same day. LG, with 48 wins and 29 losses, allowed the second-place Samsung Lions (44 wins, two ties, 30 losses) to close the gap to 2.5 games.

In a power duel played over two consecutive days, Lotte emerged victorious today. The ninth hitter, Son Seong-bin, went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while the seventh hitter, Go Seung-min, went 3-for-2 with one home run, one walk, six RBIs, and two runs scored, delivering an impressive performance from the lower part of the lineup. Victor Reyes and Han Dong-hee, batting in the cleanup spots, also contributed with two hits and one walk each in four at-bats, scoring two runs apiece.

On the mound, Shota Iimura, the new Asia quota player who had become the losing pitcher in his KBO debut game the previous day, became the hero of the victory. With relievers Kim Won-joong and Choi Jun-yong unavailable for consecutive appearances, Iimura took the mound in the seventh inning and held the line for 1⅔ innings (39 pitches), allowing four hits (one home run), no walks, striking out three batters, and surrendering only two earned runs.

Lotte gained the upper hand in the starting pitcher matchup. Lotte's Jeremy Bissell allowed five hits (one home run), one hit-by-pitch, and four earned runs over 4⅓ innings while striking out six batters before being ejected in the fifth inning after hitting Song Chan-ui on the head. LG's Jang Hyun-sik allowed five hits, two walks, and four earned runs over 2⅔ innings with one strikeout, marking his third loss of the season (six wins).

LG lined up with Song Chan-ui (left field), Park Hae-min (center field), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third base), Moon Jung-bin (first base), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Hong Chang-ki (right field), Lee Ju-heon (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second base). Jang Hyun-sik started on the mound.

Lotte countered with Hwang Seong-bin (center field), Noh Jin-hyuk (first base), Victor Reyes (left field), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Yoon Dong-hee (right field), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Go Seung-min (second base), Park Seung-wook (third base), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Jeremy Bissell started on the mound.

LG took an early lead with Moon Jung-bin's solo home run over the left-field fence in the top of the second inning, followed by Austin Dean's RBI single to center field with two outs and a runner on second base in the top of the third. However, the bottom of the third saw the start of a big inning for Lotte, beginning with Son Seong-bin's double down the left-field line as the leadoff hitter. Hwang Seong-bin then delivered an RBI single to center field. After consecutive hits by Victor Reyes and Han Dong-hee, followed by a walk from Yoon Dong-hee, Lotte loaded the bases with one out. When pitcher Kim Yun-sik entered the game, Jeon Min-jae drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at 2-2.

Go Seung-min then hit a bases-loaded home run over the right-field fence, giving Lotte a commanding 6-2 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs and bases loaded, Go Seung-min again delivered an RBI double down the right-field line, driving in two runs.

In the top of the fifth inning with one out and bases loaded, after both Song Chan-ui and Bissell had left the field, Austin Dean hit an RBI double that grazed the second baseman, driving in two runs. Although Park Hae-min was thrown out at home plate on Cheon Seong-ho's ground ball to third base, LG narrowed the gap to 7-8 thanks to Moon Jung-bin's RBI single to left field, Hong Chang-ki's RBI single to left field, and a bases-loaded walk by Moon Sung-ju.

But Lotte had Son Seong-bin. Coming to the plate as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fifth, Son Seong-bin opened the inning with a double down the left-field line. Kim Dong-hyuk sacrificed him to third base with a bunt, and Noh Jin-hyuk then drove him home with an RBI single to left field. Son Seong-bin's onslaught continued. In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first and second, he hit a two-run double down the gap between left and center field, extending Lotte's lead to 11-7.

The hero of the late innings was Japanese pitcher Iimura. In the top of the seventh inning with one out and runners on first and second, he induced Moon Sung-ju into a double play and struck out Shin Min-jae swinging, ending the inning without allowing a run.

He couldn't hold back just one more. Iimura took the mound again in the eighth inning and recorded Lee Young-bin with a catcher's strikeout at home plate. However, he allowed an infield hit to Park Hae-min and gave up a two-run home run over the left-field fence to Austin, allowing LG to close the gap to 9-11.

But no further runs were allowed. Although Iimura allowed consecutive hits to Park Dong-won and Moon Jung-bin, he struck out Oh Ji-hwan looking and induced Hong Chang-ki into a ground ball to second base before handing the mound over to Choi Jun-yong.

Closer Choi Jun-yong, making his third consecutive appearance, also held the top of the ninth inning scoreless, securing Lotte's victory. Despite allowing consecutive hits, Son Seong-bin made a crucial pickoff at second base, and Choi Jun-yong induced a double play, sealing the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.