'ERA Last Place' SSG Rebellion: 'Kim Geon-woo 5 Innings Scoreless → Starting Pitcher Wins Four Straight'... 'Lineup Explodes for 10 Runs', NC Defeated 10-4 [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The SSG Landers, powered by a dramatically improved starting rotation, have won four consecutive games.

On the 25th at Incheon SSG Landers Field, in their home game against the NC Dinos as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, SSG secured a decisive 10-4 victory thanks to Kim Geon-woo's five-inning scoreless performance and an explosive lineup that scored 10 runs on 12 hits, including three home runs.

With a record of 36 wins, 56 losses, and 3 ties, the ninth-place SSG narrowed the gap to 4.5 games over the eighth-place Lotte Giants, who have lost four straight. Meanwhile, NC, now on a two-game losing streak, remained in seventh place with 42 wins, 47 losses, and 1 tie.

SSG had plummeted to ninth place after enduring a long losing streak since mid-May. Although they opened the second half of the season with a win, they subsequently fell into another three-game losing streak. Compounding the trouble, Choi Jung also left due to injury, and on the 24th, news emerged that he underwent surgery.

What changed the team's momentum was the starting rotation. Last season, SSG ranked second in team ERA (3.63), but this year, with Kim Kwang-hyun heading to surgery before the season opener and rookie Kim Min-jun sidelined by injury, the team began the season on shaky ground.

Despite Anthony Venegas and Asian quota player Shota Taketa struggling, and Mitch White dealing with an injury, Kim Geon-woo and Choi Min-jun held strong initially. However, the mound ultimately collapsed after May. The team endured its franchise-record 13-game losing streak and later fell into another nine-game losing streak.

To replace White, SSG signed Thomas Hatch, and to replace Venegas, they acquired Pedro Avila. Rookie Kim Min-jun also rejoined the rotation. Ultimately, the strength of the starting pitchers turned the tide. On the 22nd, Avila delivered a six-inning, three-run performance; on the 23rd, Kim Min-jun pitched six innings scoreless; and on the 24th, Hatch even threw six innings allowing only two runs (one earned), securing three consecutive starting wins.

Kim Geon-woo, who started today's game, faced early trouble. He allowed a hit to leadoff batter Kim Ju-won in the first inning, then gave up another hit to Park Min-woo with one out and walked Park Geon-woo with two outs. However, he escaped the bases-loaded jam by inducing an outfield fly ball from Kim Hui-jip to right field.

Kim Geon-woo navigated scoring position threats again in the second inning and maintained steady pitching through the fifth, leaving the mound with a win in hand after throwing scoreless innings. This was his first scoreless outing since April 24 against KT Wiz — a span of 14 games over three months.

The lineup also eased Kim Geon-woo's burden from the start. In the second inning, a hit by Han Yu-seom and a lucky hit by Jo Hyung-woo created a bases-loaded situation with two outs. An Sang-hyun then drove in Natsuki Toda's fastball for a go-ahead three-run home run (his second of the season). Park Sung-han added an RBI in the third, Jo Hyung-woo hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Han Yu-seom contributed another RBI in the fifth, extending the lead to 6-0. The team added two more runs each in the sixth and seventh innings, laying the foundation for a decisive victory.

On the mound, after Kim Geon-woo exited, Lee Run came on in the sixth inning and allowed two runs, but Kim Min, Lee Geon-wook, and Choi Min-jun held on to secure the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.