'Miracle Doosan' Choi Min-seok's early exit → spectacular defensive play → pinch-hitter hit → 8th-inning comeback, SSG defeated for winning series [Incheon On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Doosan Bears, who struggled as their ace faltered, secured a thrilling comeback victory.

On the 30th, Doosan defeated SSG Landers 5-3 in a home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League held at Incheon SSG Landers Field.

With this win, Doosan improved to 50 wins (45 losses, 3 ties), maintaining their fifth-place position while staying one game ahead of fourth-place KIA Tigers. Meanwhile, SSG remained in ninth place with a record of 37 wins, 58 losses, and 4 ties.

Doosan lined up its batting order as follows: Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Yunion Severino (designated hitter), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Yang Ui-ji (catcher), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), Son A-seop (right fielder), Kang Seung-ho (first baseman), and Jung Soobin (center fielder). Choi Min-seok started on the mound.

SSG countered with this lineup: Jeong Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Bly Maddis (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Ahn Sang-hyun (third baseman), and Lee Ji-young (catcher). Thomas Hatch started for SSG.

Choi Min-seok, the top pitcher of the first half, struggled from the early stages of the game. In the bottom of the first inning, Jeong Jun-jae reached base with a left-field single, followed by walks to Park Sung-han and Maddis.

With no outs and bases loaded, Doosan was fortunate. After securing a strike with a 3-0 count, Kim Jae-hwan hit into a double play (first baseman to catcher to first baseman), eliminating all runners in the best possible scenario. Choi then struck out Jeon Ui-san and finished the inning without allowing any runs.

Doosan started the top of the second with Yang Ui-ji's single, scoring one run on Ahn Jae-seok's double. When Son A-seop hit a ground ball to the pitcher, Ahn advanced to third base and scored on an error by the catcher, adding two more runs.

However, Choi Min-seok continued to struggle in the second inning. He allowed a single and a stolen base to Choi Ji-hoon. When Han Yu-seom hit a ground ball to shortstop, Park Chan-ho threw to third base to retire the lead runner, but he then walked Ahn Sang-hyun before giving up a center-field single to Lee Ji-young. Once again, luck favored Doosan: Han Yu-seom, running from second to home, was cut off by Jung Soobin's quick throw from center field, preventing another run.

Despite this, Choi Min-seok issued consecutive walks to Jeong Jun-jae and Park Sung-han, leading to a bases-loaded walk that scored one run. It was fortunate that Park Chan-ho chased down Maddis' well-placed hit into the outfield, minimizing further damage.

Doosan found stability afterward. Although they allowed a single with one out in the third inning, Choi Ji-hoon was retired on a double play. The fourth inning ended with three up, three down. However, in the fifth, Park Sung-han singled with one out, and Maddis hit a two-run home run to left-center field — his third of the season. Doosan fell behind 2-3 and Choi Min-seok was removed from the mound.

Doosan quickly activated its bullpen and prevented any additional runs. Lee Byung-hun (2/3 innings), Kim Jeong-woo, Kim Taek-yeon (both 1 inning), and Lee Yong-chan (2/3 innings) held the line effectively.

Thanks to strong relief pitching, Doosan seized its opportunity. Hatch remained on the mound until the top of the seventh with bases loaded and no outs before being pulled. Jung Soobin flew out to left field, and Park Chan-ho grounded into a double play, allowing Doosan to avoid scoring in that frame. But in the eighth, they did not miss their chance.

Against reliever Choi Min-jun, Severino drew a walk, followed by Park Jun-soon's double to tie the game. Kim Min-seok then delivered a go-ahead RBI single. Ahn Jae-seok's infield hit was followed by consecutive singles from Jo Su-haeng and Park Ji-hoon, extending the lead to 5-3. Notably, the comeback was especially meaningful as it featured two hits from pinch-hitter Jo Su-haeng, an RBI single from Park Ji-hoon, and a key baserunning play by pinch-runner Kim Daehan that tied the game.

Lee Young-ha, who entered in the eighth with one out, stayed on the mound for the ninth and retired all three batters to earn his 15th save of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.