'Kang Min-ho's first 6 RBIs after transfer': Samsung sweeps all three games against SSG! 'Leader' LG Twins under pressure with a one-game gap... A 'BIGBANG' unfolds in Daegu... Landers suffer their ninth consecutive loss [Incheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Samsung Lions swept all three away games against the SSG Landers, narrowing the gap with league-leading LG Twins to just one game.

On the 5th, Samsung defeated SSG 13-3 in an away game of the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' at Incheon SSG Landers Field. Leading 11-0 through the top of the sixth inning, Samsung secured the victory early. With this win, Samsung continued its four-game winning streak. Meanwhile, SSG fell into a slump with nine consecutive losses.

Samsung's lineup for the day was: Kim Ji-chan (designated hitter), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Kim Hyun-jun (center fielder), Park Seung-gyu (left fielder), Diaz (first baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Sim Jae-hoon (shortstop), and Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman). Starting pitcher was right-handed Yang Chang-seop.

In response, SSG set their batting order as: Park Sung-han (shortstop), Heredia (right fielder), Choi Jung (designated hitter), Kim Jae-hwan (left fielder), Go Myeong-jun (third baseman), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Jeong Jun-jae (second baseman). Left-handed Kim Geon-woo started on the mound for SSG.

Samsung began pounding SSG from the second inning. After quickly falling behind with two outs, Sim Jae-hoon drew a walk after a tough at-bat, igniting a counterattack. Jeon Byeong-woo then reached base via a hit-by-pitch, creating a scoring opportunity with two outs and runners on first and second.

Kim Ji-chan followed with an RBI single to left field, taking a 1-0 lead. Riding the momentum, Kim Sung-yoon singled up the middle to fill the bases, and Kim Hyun-jun immediately exploded with a three-run double down the left-center gap, quickly extending the lead to 4-0.

Kim Hyun-jun was also present in the top of the fourth. After Jeon Byeong-woo was hit by a pitch and Kim Ji-chan drew a walk, Samsung had a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs. When Kim Sung-yoon grounded to the pitcher, leading runner Jeon Byeong-woo was forced out at third base, but the fielder's choice kept runners on first and second with one out. Kim Hyun-jun then delivered another clean RBI single to left field, widening the score gap to 5-0. Samsung further secured an early lead in the middle of the game when Kang Min-ho hit a three-run home run into the left-center field seats in the top of the fifth inning.

Kang Min-ho's hot bat showed no signs of cooling in the top of the sixth. After hitting a three-run homer in the fifth, Kang completed back-to-back home runs by launching another three-run shot into the left-center field gap against Baek Seung-geon with two outs and runners on first and second.

This home run was Kang Min-ho's sixth of the season and his 12th career back-to-back home run. It marked his first taste of such excitement since September 16, 2022, against Doosan in Daegu—nearly four years later. With this hit, Kang Min-ho became the 1st,262nd player in KBO League history to hit consecutive home runs, extending the score to 11-0 and completely crushing SSG's hopes of a comeback.

Notably, Kang Min-ho alone accounted for all six RBIs with just two home runs on this day. This set a new personal record for most RBIs in a single game since joining Samsung. The previous record was five RBIs, achieved twice: once against Doosan in Daegu on September 16, 2022, and again against Hanwha in Daejeon on May 9, 2023. Kang's career-high for RBIs in a single game remains eight, recorded while playing for Lotte in a game against Doosan at Sajik Stadium on April 5, 2015.

In the bottom of the sixth, SSG launched a counterattack. Jeong Jun-jae led off with an infield single to second base, and Park Sung-han followed with a double down the left-field line, creating a scoring opportunity with no outs and runners on second and third. During the play on Heredia's ground ball to second base, Ryu Ji-hyuk committed a fielding error, allowing runner Jeong Jun-jae from third to score the first run for SSG.

Choi Jung then grounded to shortstop; leading runner Heredia was thrown out at second base, but pinch-runner Hong Dae-in scored. Kim Jae-hwan was retired, but Go Myeong-jun drew a walk after a grueling 10-pitch at-bat, maintaining runners on first and second with two outs. Jeon Ui-san then hit an RBI single to left-center field, narrowing the gap to 3-11.

In the top of the seventh, Samsung immediately extended their lead again. After two outs, Kim Sung-yoon, Kim Hyun-jun, and Diaz each drew a walk, creating a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Ryu Ji-hyuk then targeted the first pitch from reliever Park Si-hoo, hitting an RBI double to left field that scored two runs, pushing the score to 13-3 and completely quashing SSG's comeback hopes.

Samsung starter Yang Chang-seop pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing seven hits, striking out two, walking one, and giving up three earned runs (two unearned), earning the win. He improved his season record to 7 wins with no losses. Relief pitchers Lee Jae-hee, Lee Seung-min, Choi Ji-kwang, and Im Gi-young all held SSG scoreless. In contrast, SSG starter Kim Geon-woo collapsed after pitching four innings, allowing seven hits, walking four, and surrendering seven runs, taking on the burden of his seventh loss (6 wins) of the season.

Offensively, Kim Hyun-jun went 3-for-4 with two walks and four RBIs, while Kang Min-ho went 2-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. Samsung amassed 13 hits across the lineup and scored 13 runs, showcasing formidable offensive power.

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*This content was translated by AI.