Kiwoom's manager breaks Samsung's seven-game losing streak, highly satisfied with a 4-1 record in the second half! "Very encouraging → Hope Alcantara has no elbow issues"

*This content was translated by AI.

As Kiwoom Heroes finally ended their seven-game losing streak against Samsung Lions, manager Seol Jong-jin (53) also expressed gratitude to his players and fans. He even left a message for foreign ace pitcher Raul Alcantara (34).

On the 22nd, Kiwoom defeated Samsung 3-1 in a home game at Gocheok Sky Dome as part of the '2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League', continuing their upward momentum with a 4-1 record (1 draw) in the second half.

Kiwoom's starting pitcher Raul Alcantara pitched four scoreless innings allowing only three hits before exiting voluntarily due to right elbow pain in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, the bullpen—comprising Park Ji-sung, Kim Sung-min, Jo Young-geon, Yuto, and Won Jong-hyun—allowed just one earned run collectively to secure the victory. In particular, Yuto provided solid support on the mound with two perfect scoreless innings. Offensively, Kim Woong-bin shone with a game-winning home run (2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI), while Chu Jae-hyun added firepower with two hits in three at-bats.

After the game, manager Seol Jong-jin first checked on starting pitcher Raul Alcantara, who had unexpectedly been removed from the game. Manager Seol stated, "Alcantara pitched well for four innings. I hope there are no major issues with his elbow," expressing concern. He then praised the bullpen for handling the sudden crisis effectively. Manager Seol added, "Park Ji-sung, who entered quickly, held the line for one inning, and Kim Sung-min also delivered scoreless pitching against left-handed batters. In particular, Yuto threw two perfect innings, overcoming a bases-loaded no-out situation, while Won Jong-hyun cleanly closed out the remaining innings," attributing the victory to the pitching staff.

He did not forget to mention the position players who performed well on both offense and defense. Manager Seol said, "In offense, Kim Woong-bin hit another home run today following yesterday's performance, contributing two hits with great impact." He further noted, "Kwon Hyuk-bin, who has been in good hitting form recently, delivered a timely hit when extra runs were needed and also contributed to the win with agile defensive movements," offering praise from multiple angles.

Finally, Manager Seol concluded, "Recently, our players have shown strong focus and created many positive moments, which is very encouraging. I am grateful to all fans who have given us great support, and we will prepare well for tomorrow's game as well."

Meanwhile, according to Kiwoom's organization, Alcantara currently has no plans for hospital examination. His medical team will assess his condition once more by the 23rd before deciding whether a hospital check-up is necessary.

Additionally, Kiwoom has announced Ha Young-min as their starting pitcher for the 23rd game, while Samsung has named Yang Chang-seop. This crucial pitching matchup could determine the outcome of the winning series.

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*This content was translated by AI.