'Son Seong-bin is crazy' debuts with four hits in first game + fantastic double play pickoff in the 9th! 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 a low batting average throughout June, exploded into action. Catcher Son Seong-bin (24) recorded his first four-hit game in six years since his debut, while Go Seung-min (26) delivered an outstanding performance with six RBIs 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 win, Lotte secured a winning series with two wins and one loss. Their overall record stands at 33 wins, two ties, and 41 losses. They maintained a two-game lead over the seventh-place NC Dinos (35 wins, one tie, 39 losses), who also won on the same day. LG sits at 48 wins and 29 losses, allowing the second-place Samsung Lions (44 wins, two ties, 30 losses) to trail by just 2.5 games.

In a back-to-back offensive showdown, Lotte emerged victorious this time. The ninth batter, Son Seong-bin, went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while the seventh batter, Go Seung-min, contributed three hits in three at-bats (including one home run), one walk, six RBIs, and two runs scored, making a strong impression from the lower part of the lineup. Victor Reyes and Han Dong-hee, batting in the cleanup spots, also chipped in with two hits in four at-bats each, one walk, and two runs apiece.

On the mound, Shota Iimura, an Asia quota player who had taken the loss 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 over from the seventh inning, pitching 1⅔ innings (39 pitches), allowing four hits (one home run), no walks, striking out three batters, and surrendering only two earned runs to hold the line.

The starting pitcher matchup favored Lotte. Lotte's Jeremy Wisler pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing five hits (one home run), one hit-by-pitch, striking out six batters, and giving up four runs before being ejected after hitting Song Chan-ui in the head in the fifth inning. LG's Jang Hyun-sik pitched 2⅔ innings, allowing five hits, two walks, one strikeout, and four runs, marking his third loss of the season (with six wins).

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

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

LG took an early lead with Moon Jung-bin's solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second inning, followed by Austin Dean's RBI single up the middle with two outs and a runner on second base in the third. However, Lotte responded in the bottom of the third when Son Seong-bin opened the inning with a double down the left-field line. Hwang Seong-bin then drove him in with an RBI single up the middle, signaling the start of a big inning. After consecutive hits from Victor Reyes and Han Dong-hee, followed by a walk from Yoon Dong-hee, Lotte loaded the bases with one out. When reliever Kim Yun-sik entered, Jeon Min-jae drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2.

Go Seung-min then hit another bases-loaded home run over the right-field fence, pushing Lotte ahead 6-2. In the bottom of the fourth, with two outs and bases loaded again, Go delivered another RBI double down the right-field line, driving in two more runs.

In the top of the fifth inning, with one out and bases loaded after both Song Chan-ui and Wisler had left the field, Austin Dean hit an RBI double that just missed the second baseman's glove. Although Park Hae-min was thrown out at home on Cheon Seong-ho's ground ball to third base, Moon Jung-bin followed with an RBI single up the left side, Hong Chang-gi added another RBI single up the left side, and Moon Sung-ju drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing LG within one run at 7-8.

But Lotte had Son Seong-bin. Coming to bat as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fifth, Son opened the inning with a double down the left-field line. Kim Dong-hyuk sacrificed him to third base, and Noh Jin-hyuk drove him home with an RBI single up the right side. Son's offensive onslaught continued. In the bottom of the sixth, 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 in the late innings was Japanese pitcher Shota Iimura. He entered the game in the top of the seventh with one out and runners on first and second, inducing Moon Sung-ju into a double play and striking out Shin Min-jae swinging to end the inning without allowing any runs.

He couldn't hold back just one runner. Iimura returned to the mound in the eighth inning, getting Lee Young-bin out with a strikeout and a tag play at home. 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 Dean, allowing LG to close the gap to 9-11.

But no further runs scored. Iimura allowed consecutive hits to Park Dong-won and Moon Jung-bin but retired Oh Ji-hwan looking and induced Hong Chang-gi 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 line in the top of the ninth without allowing any runs, securing Lotte's victory. Although he allowed consecutive hits, Son Seong-bin made a crucial pickoff at second base, and Choi recorded a double play to seal the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.