'Three-run home run to the final → RBI hit → Stormy base running' Kim Jae-hwan's four-RBI one-man show! SSG defeats Lotte 8-4 [Incheon On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Led by 38-year-old Kim Jae-hwan, the SSG Landers capped their first game after the midsummer heat break with a victory.

On the 11th, SSG defeated the Lotte Giants 8-4 in a regular-season home game at IncheonSSG Landers Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, the ninth-place SSG, now on a two-game winning streak, improved to 40 wins, 4 draws, and 60 losses, achieving a .400 winning percentage. The eighth-place Lotte, whose winning streak was snapped, recorded 44 wins, 2 draws, and 55 losses.

The outcome of the game was decided early. In the bottom of the first inning, Jung Jun-jae and Park Sung-han reached base with consecutive hits, and Kim Jae-hwan immediately took control with a three-run home run over the right-field fence. The ball traveled 125 meters — his 18th home run of the season.

Kim Jae-hwan continued to dominate in the next inning. In the bottom of the second, with one out and a runner on first base, third baseman Cho Hyung-woo scored as shortstop Jeon Min-jae failed to field Jung Jun-jae's ground ball. Park Sung-han drew a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat, and Kim Jae-hwan followed with an RBI double down the right-field line, extending the lead. When Jeon Ui-san later hit an RBI single, he sprinted from second to home plate, completing a 7-0 score. Although Lotte managed to score four runs afterward, they could not overcome the deficit.

In the pitching duel, SSG held a significant advantage. SSG's Pedro Avila pitched six innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six batters, giving up three earned runs (zero unearned), securing his third win of the season. Lotte's Jeremy Wisler lasted five innings, surrendering eight hits (including one home run) and one walk, with three strikeouts, allowing seven earned runs (six unearned), resulting in his fifth loss of the season (8 wins total).

SSG's lineup also demonstrated strong focus. Kim Jae-hwan went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored; Jeon Ui-san was 2-for-4 with two RBIs; and Cho Hyung-woo went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. For Lotte, Na Seung-yeop went 2-for-3 with one run scored, and Yoon Dong-hee went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk, but their efforts were overshadowed by the team's loss.

Lotte's lineup that day consisted of Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Go Seung-min (second baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Noh Jin-hyuk (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Jeremy Wisler started on the mound.

SSG countered with Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Bly Madris (left fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Cho Hyung-woo (catcher), and An Sang-hyun (third baseman). Pedro Avila started on the mound.

With SSG holding a 7-0 lead, Lotte struggled to reach base. In the top of the fourth inning, Na Seung-yeop and Reyes hit consecutive singles to load the bases with runners on first and second. However, Han Dong-hee grounded into a double play by the second baseman, extinguishing the rally.

Lotte's comeback attempt began belatedly. In the top of the sixth inning, following an error that created a two-out situation with runners on first and second, Go Seung-min hit an RBI double down the right-field line to cut the deficit by one run. Yoon Dong-hee then followed with an RBI single up the middle, narrowing the score to 3-7.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Cho Hyung-woo reached second base on a single up the left field followed by a wild pitch, and An Sang-hyun drove him home with an RBI single up the left field, sealing the momentum for SSG. Lotte's Han Dong-hee hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to add one more run, offering some consolation.

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*This content was translated by AI.