'Unexpected Starter's 5-Inning No-Hitter → Kim Jae-hwan's Game-Winning Two-Run Homer': SSG Defeats LG 5-3 [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers, led by the strong performance of unexpected starter Choi Min-jun (27) and a game-winning two-run homer by Kim Jae-hwan (38), overpowered LG Twins.

On the 14th, SSG defeated LG 5-3 in an away regular-season game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, ninth-place SSG improved to 42 wins, 4 draws, and 61 losses, while LG, with 57 wins, 1 draw, and 47 losses, failed to close the gap with second-place Samsung Lions.

In the starting pitcher matchup, SSG took the lead by deploying an unexpected starter. Choi Min-jun of SSG took the mound in place of Thomas Hatch, who had complained of shoulder pain the previous day (13th). Despite the sudden appearance, Choi dominated early with 5⅔ innings pitched, allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 batters, surrendering just 2 earned runs and including a no-hitter through five innings.

LG's Song Seung-gi also pitched well for 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts and 1 earned run, but was replaced due to blisters on his fingers for player protection. The turning point came in the bottom of the 8th inning when both teams were tied 2-2. LG brought in their ace reliever Kim Jin-seong. Park Sung-han opened the scoring with a double down the right-field line at first base. Kim Jae-hwan then capitalized on a high incoming fastball, sending it soaring over the center-field wall for a distance of 130 meters — his 19th home run of the season.

LG, plagued by only three hits throughout the game, could not recover from this deficit and suffered defeat. In contrast, SSG's offense shone: Choi Ji-hun went 3-for-4 with 1 run scored, while Park Sung-han hit 2-for-4 with 1 walk and 2 runs. Kim Jae-hwan led his team to victory with a game-winning home run, going 1-for-3 (including the homer), driving in 1 run, drawing 1 walk, and scoring 1 run.

SSG's lineup that day was: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), An Sang-hyun (third baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Choi Ji-hun (center fielder), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Im Geun-woo (left fielder). The starting pitcher was Choi Min-jun.

LG countered with the following lineup: Park Hae-min (center fielder), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Moon Jeong-bin (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Hong Chang-gi (right fielder), Lee Ju-heon (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Song Seung-gi.

The tight 0-0 balance in SSG's lower-order lineup, which had not been expected to contribute much, was finally broken. In the top of the 5th inning, leadoff hitter Choi Ji-hun reached base with a single up the middle. Han Yu-seom then executed a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runner to second base. Choi moved to third on a fly ball to right field by Jo Hyung-woo and scored on Im Geun-woo's RBI single up the middle.

Next, the heart of the lineup delivered. In the top of the 6th inning, leadoff hitter Park Sung-han reached base via a walk against reliever Kim Young-woo. Following him, Jeon Ui-san hit a massive double off the upper part of the left-center field wall, bringing Park Sung-han home. SSG took a 2-0 lead.

LG responded in the bottom of the 6th inning. Shin Min-jae hit a double down the right-field line at first base. He advanced to third on a ground ball by Park Hae-min and scored when Song Chan-ui hit an RBI double into left-center field. Austin Dean then singled up the middle with an RBI against reliever Kim Min, tying the game at 2-2.

However, the lead was retaken in the top of the 8th inning thanks to Kim Jae-hwan's go-ahead two-run homer. In the top of the 9th, Jung Jun-jae drew a walk and stole second base. When Oh Tae-gon hit a fly ball to center field, Jung advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch by the opposing pitcher, sealing the victory.

LG managed only one run in the bottom of the 9th inning when Moon Jeong-bin hit a solo home run over the left-field wall, but it was too little too late as SSG secured the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.