'Mistake after mistake': Another victory slipped away, SSG hit with six-game losing streak... No way to win in sight

*This content was translated by AI.

The collapse of the starting rotation was painfully bitter, but even when starters hold the line and the lineup rallies to create comebacks, defeats keep repeating.

On the 2nd, SSG Landers fell 7-8 in a visiting game against KIA Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, losing on a walk-off error in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Dropped into a six-game losing streak, SSG sits at 30 wins, 47 losses, and 3 ties, holding ninth place. The last-place Kiwoom Heroes also suffered a defeat but maintained a four-game lead; however, their winning percentage has fallen to 0.390.

Although the team barely snapped a 13-game losing streak early last month, it then endured another five-game losing streak, and the losing run has now extended to six games.

This was another painfully bitter loss following the previous day's game. In this match, SSG took a 4-0 lead with a two-run double by Jo Hyung-woo in the third inning, followed by an RBI single from Park Sung-han and a hit from Choi Jeong, then Guillermo Heredia hit a three-run home run. It seemed certain that the losing streak would finally be broken this time.

They allowed one run in the bottom of the third, but in the fifth inning with no outs and bases loaded, Heredia delivered another RBI single to extend the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, they gave up a solo home run to Kim Do-young, but starting pitcher Anthony Venegas pitched five innings allowing only two runs, shedding recent struggles and handing over the game with victory conditions met.

However, the bullpen faltered. Jeon Young-jun, who entered in the sixth inning, allowed a solo home run to Han Jun-soo. Lee Ro-un, who came on in the sixth with two outs, surrendered three hits and one more run in the seventh. First baseman Jeon Ui-san failed to field a ground ball hit by Park Jae-hyun in the bottom of the sixth and was replaced by Oh Tae-gon in the bottom of the seventh.

Moon Seung-won, who entered in the eighth inning, also allowed consecutive hits and gave up one run. Ultimately, they surrendered a 5-5 tie, returning the game to square one.

The SSG lineup found its power. In the top of the ninth with two outs, Choi Jeong hit a double, followed by Kim Sung-wook driving in Park Sang-hyun's fast pitch for a go-ahead two-run home run over the left-field wall.

With just three outs needed to secure the win, reliever Noh Kyung-eun allowed a hit to Kim Do-young, then gave up a tying two-run home run over the center-left field fence to Na Sung-beom. Next, Lee Geon-wook entered with one out and allowed a double to Han Jun-soo. When pinch-hitter Park Sang-jun hit a ground ball, shortstop Park Sung-han committed a fielding error. Had he simply fielded the ball, the runner on second could have been held at third base, but the ball slipped between his legs, allowing Han Jun-soo to circle third and score home. The hit was extremely fast, and it appeared the runner may have obstructed his view, yet failing to make the play entirely proved too decisive.

The previous day's game came to mind. SSG had taken a two-run lead in the top of the ninth to tie the game, then succeeded in taking the lead in the top of the tenth, but in the bottom of the tenth, Moon Seung-won committed a pickoff error that led to an opposing sacrifice fly tying the score again. Although no additional runs were scored, clumsy fielding by Park Sung-han and Jung Jun-jae drew sighs. In the top of the eleventh, SSG added two more runs, but Kim Min's throwing error ultimately allowed the tie once more. They could only be satisfied that the losing streak had not lengthened further, yet this time they were left with a futile defeat. It was also fatal that all five relievers surrendered at least one run.

The game on the 3rd will not be easy in Gyeonggi-do. Returning to Incheon, SSG will face Samsung and must contend with ace Won Tae-in. SSG's starter will be Hatch. Since joining as a replacement player, Hatch has gradually increased his innings over three games. With both defense and bullpen in unstable condition, the starting pitcher must pitch long and stable innings to break the losing streak. Can Hatch become a savior for the crisis-ridden SSG?

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*This content was translated by AI.