156 km/h Avila earns back-to-back QS starts and first KBO home run for Madris! SSG finally benefits from foreign investor... Breaks 7-game losing streak with 7-3 win over Lotte [KBO Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Thanks to the outstanding pitching of SSG Landers' newly found ace, Pedro Avila (29), the team finally escaped its losing streak.

On the 22nd, SSG defeated Lotte Giants 7-3 in an away game during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium.

With this victory, SSG broke its four-game losing streak and maintained ninth place in the league with a record of 33 wins, 3 draws, and 56 losses. Lotte, unable to carry forward momentum from the previous day (21st), remained in eighth place with 40 wins, 2 draws, and 48 losses.

It seems they finally found their ace after no fewer than four foreign pitcher changes. Before Avila joined this year, SSG saw five foreign pitchers pass through, including Drew VerHagen, whose contract was terminated before the season due to medical test issues. With domestic top starter Kim Kwang-hyun sidelined for the season due to shoulder surgery, the absence of a foreign ace was considered a major reason for SSG's drop to ninth place.

But that concern is now over. Against Lotte, who had hit 10 hits the previous day (21st), Avila delivered six innings with four hits allowed, two walks, six strikeouts, and three earned runs, achieving a Quality Start (QS — defined as six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs). This marked his second consecutive QS and back-to-back starting wins. He threw 92 pitches total, mixing a four-seam fastball (14 pitches) and two-seam fastball (36 pitches), both reaching top speeds of 156 km/h, along with cutters (18 pitches), curves (13 pitches), and changeups (11 pitches).

Avila pitched a no-hitter until he allowed a hit to Victor Reyes in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, giving SSG an early lead. Although he gave up three runs after allowing concentrated hits in the sixth inning, he induced 12 swings and misses, raising expectations for his future performances.

The SSG lineup, which had been silent the previous day, exploded with 12 hits overall. In particular, new foreign batter Blythe Madris led the offense with his KBO debut home run, going 3-for-5 (including one home run) with two RBIs and two runs scored. Kim Jae-hwan also went 3-for-5 with one RBI, Jeon Ui-san hit a home run in four at-bats with two RBIs, one run, and one walk, while Choi Ji-hoon contributed two hits in four at-bats.

In contrast, Lotte showed the exact opposite of their previous day's performance. Starting pitcher Park Se-woong failed to deliver, allowing seven hits (including one home run), two walks, three strikeouts, and five earned runs over four innings. The lineup also struggled with a low-hit output, managing only three hits total except for Ko Seung-min, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

SSG's batting order today was: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Blythe Madris (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), Im Geun-woo (right fielder), and Hong Dae-in (third baseman). Pedro Avila was the starting pitcher.

Lotte countered with Han Tae-yang (third baseman), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (right fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (center fielder), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Park Se-woong started on the mound for Lotte.

From the start, SSG dominated Lotte's pitching staff. In the top of the first inning with one out, Park Sung-han reached base with a double down the left-field line. Madris then targeted an outside low sweeper from Park Se-woong and drove in a run with a single to center field for the first score. In the second inning, leadoff batter Choi Ji-hoon drew a walk. Jo Hyung-woo hit an outside slider deep into left-center field for a two-run double.

A big inning came in the top of the third. With one out, Madris hit a double to left-center field, Kim Jae-hwan followed with a sacrifice fly to left-center for an RBI, and Jeon Ui-san launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall, giving SSG a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Madris hit his first KBO home run by driving a fast pitch from reliever Lee Min-seok over the center-field fence.

Leadoff base runners led to additional runs. In the top of the sixth, Jo Hyung-woo drew a walk on a straight pitch. Hong Dae-in then hit a double to left-center field with one out, creating a bases-loaded opportunity. Jung Jun-jae grounded a ball toward second base, scoring another run.

Lotte's offense finally caught fire late. In the bottom of the sixth, leadoff batter Son Seong-bin reached on a single to right field. Han Tae-yang drew a walk after a full count, followed by Ko Seung-min's two-run double to left-center and Han Dong-hee's groundout for an RBI, cutting the deficit to three runs. Na Seung-yeop also hit a double to left-center to keep momentum alive, but Jeon Jun-woo was retired on a foul pop-up to first base without adding any more runs.

For Lotte, it was frustrating that they repeatedly failed to score despite multiple chances to catch up. In the bottom of the eighth, Han Tae-yang drew a walk, Ko Seung-min hit a double to left-center, and Na Seung-yeop walked, creating a bases-loaded situation with two outs. However, once again, Jeon Jun-woo's hit went straight to the center fielder's glove, causing Lotte to lose all hope of a comeback.

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*This content was translated by AI.