'Another QS' Rookie Kim Min-jun's Crazy Stability, Power Show SSG Victory... Doosan Plummets to 5th Place [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The second half has completely changed. With the strengthened starting rotation leading the way, SSG Landers won again. Rookie Kim Min-jun delivered impressive performances in two consecutive games, securing a victory for his team.

On the 29th, SSG defeated Doosan Bears 6-2 in a home game at Incheon SSG Landers Field as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

SSG, riding a wave of six wins, five losses, and one tie in the second half, maintained their ninth-place standing with an overall record of 37 wins, 57 losses, and four ties. In contrast, Doosan, which had climbed to fourth place with a win the previous day, fell back to fifth after today's loss, now sitting at 49 wins, 45 losses, and three ties.

SSG fielded its starting lineup for the day as follows: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Bryce Mardis (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Han Yu-seom (left fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Ahn Sang-hyun (third baseman). Kim Min-jun was the starting pitcher.

Doosan countered with Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Yuni Severino (first baseman), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Yang Eui-ji (designated hitter), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), Jung Soobin (center fielder), Yoon Jun-ho (catcher), and Kim Daehun (right fielder). Choi Seung-yong started on the mound for Doosan.

In the top of the first inning, Kim Min-jun allowed a run after giving up consecutive hits to Park Chan-ho and Severino with no outs and runners on first and third bases. He surrendered the lead-off run via Park Jun-soon's sacrifice fly to center field. However, he then induced Yang Eui-ji into a 1-3-2 double play to first base, escaping further scoring trouble.

The offense lightened Kim Min-jun's burden in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Jung Jun-jae hit a ball down the right-field line and used his speed to reach second base before advancing to third. Park Sung-han followed with a go-ahead RBI single, and Mardis capitalized on a 2-2 count by lifting Choi Seung-yong's low sweeper over the right-field fence for a two-run homer—his second of the season.

In the fourth inning, Jeon Ui-san reached base with a double as the leadoff hitter. He later advanced to third on Choi Ji-hoon's fly out to right field and scored on Han Yu-seom's hit to left-center field for an additional run.

Kim Min-jun protected his lead with dazzling pitching. Even in the second inning, when he faced a crisis with one out and runners on second and third, he escaped thanks to an excellent defensive play by third baseman Ahn Sang-hyun, who tagged out the runner at home plate. He then retired Kim Daehun on a fly out to second base to end the inning, pitching flawlessly through five innings.

Although he gave up a solo home run (his 13th of the season) to Yang Eui-ji in the sixth inning, SSG held a 4-2 lead. He handed the ball over to No Gyeong-eun in the seventh and retired the side without allowing any runs. The offense added more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Starting with Ahn Sang-hyun's double with one out, Jung Jun-jae and Park Sung-han both hit doubles, adding two more runs.

Over six innings, Kim Min-jun threw 90 pitches, allowing five hits (including one home run), issuing one walk, recording two strikeouts, and surrendering two earned runs. In his eighth game of the season, he achieved his third quality start (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs), securing his fourth win of the season (with two losses). No Gyeong-eun, who retired the side in order in the seventh inning, recorded his 130th career hold (his ninth this season)—the seventh such record in league history.

With seven of the eleven hits being extra-base hits, the stable performance of the starting pitcher combined with explosive hitting led to an easy victory. All batters from first through fifth managed to get a hit and played a decisive role in the win. Among them, Jung Jun-jae (2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run), Park Sung-han (2 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Bryce Mardis (who drove in the go-ahead run with his two-run homer), and Jeon Ui-san (with two doubles) stood out for their outstanding performances.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.