'19-Minute Game Suspension' Smoke from 'Soak Show' Delay Overcome as Lotte Defeats NC 8-5 with Park Se-woong's 6⅔ Innings QS + Ko Seung-min's 10th Home Run [KBO Review]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Despite the game being suspended due to fireworks smoke, the Lotte Giants secured a victory.

On the 15th, Lotte defeated NC Dinos 8-5 in their regular-season home game at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, Lotte avenged their disappointing loss from the previous day (the 14th), improving their record to 46 wins, 2 ties, and 57 losses, narrowing the gap with 7th-place NC Dinos (46 wins, 2 ties, 51 losses) by 2.5 games.

On this day, a performance of 'Psy Soak Show 2026' was held at the nearby Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Around the time Lotte's offense was underway in the bottom of the 6th inning, smoke from fireworks set off during the Soak Show drifted over to Sajik Baseball Stadium. The game was eventually suspended with Park Seung-wook at bat and resumed at 9:01 p.m. after a 19-minute wait.

However, Lotte's lineup did not lose focus. With Lotte trailing 2-3 in the bottom of the 6th inning, one out, and a runner on first base, Jeon Min-jae hit a two-run double to left-center field, tying the score at 3-3. Later, Son Seong-bin drew a walk, and Hwang Sung-bin reached base on a hit-by-pitch, creating a bases-loaded situation. Na Seung-yeop then flew out to center field.

Lotte quickly made up for that disappointment in the bottom of the 7th inning. Victor Reyes led off with a single to left field, Han Dong-hee reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and Ko Seung-min connected on Kim Jin-ho's high fastball for a three-run home run over the right-field fence, giving Lotte a 6-4 lead. NC was unable to overcome this deficit, allowing Lotte to secure the victory.

Prior to that, Lotte starting pitcher Park Se-woong delivered a strong performance. Park pitched 6⅔ innings, allowing nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts while giving up four runs (two earned), earning his second win of the season (with seven losses). Although there were repeated errors by Lotte's infielders and outfielders on this day, he managed to hold firm and achieve a Quality Start (starting pitcher pitching at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs).

Returning to the closer role, Choi Jun-yong entered in the 9th inning with no outs and a runner on first base. He pitched one scoreless inning, allowing one hit with no walks and one strikeout, recording his 15th save of the season. NC starter Won Jong-hae lasted only four innings, allowing five hits, three walks, two strikeouts, and two runs, failing to complete five innings.

It was a high-scoring game with a combined total of 24 hits from both teams. For Lotte, Han Dong-hee went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Ko Seung-min went 1-for-3 (including his second career double-digit home run) with three RBIs, one walk, and one run scored. Additionally, Hwang Sung-bin, Na Seung-yeop, and Jeon Min-jae each recorded multi-hit performances to lead the team to victory. For NC, Ahn Jung-yeol went 4-for-4 with one RBI, Cheon Jae-hwan went 3-for-4, and Park Min-woo went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, but their efforts were overshadowed by the team's loss.

On this day, Lotte lined up its batting order as follows: Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (designated hitter), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Han Tae-yang (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). Park Se-woong was the starting pitcher.

In response, NC set its lineup as follows: Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Park Geon-woo (designated hitter), Blaine (first baseman), Park Si-won (right fielder), Ahn Jung-yeol (catcher), and Cheon Jae-hwan (center fielder). Won Jong-hae was the starting pitcher.

The first run belonged to the home team, Lotte. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Hwang Sung-bin hit a single to left field, followed by walks to Na Seung-yeop and Reyes, loading the bases with no outs. Han Dong-hee then hit a two-run double to left-center field, giving Lotte a 2-0 lead.

NC succeeded in tying the game. In the top of the 3rd inning, leading off batter Park Si-won hit a double down the right-field line, followed by Ahn Jung-yeol's one-run double to left-center field. When Cheon Jae-hwan attempted a bunt, Han Tae-yang made an errant throw that first baseman Na Seung-yeop failed to handle, allowing another run to score. The game was tied 2-2.

In the top of the 4th inning with one out and a runner on first base, Park Geon-woo hit a ground ball, and Han Tae-yang made an errant throw, leading to his immediate replacement by Park Seung-wook. Blaine then hit a ground ball to third base, giving NC a 3-2 lead.

After the game suspension caused by smoke, Lotte scored four runs in a row. In the top of the 8th inning with no outs and a runner on first base, Kim Hwi-jip hit a one-run double down the left-field line, cutting Lotte's lead to one run.

It was disappointing for NC that subsequent hits failed to materialize despite continued opportunities. Park Geon-woo sacrificed to move the runner to third with one out, but Blaine and Park Si-won both grounded out in succession, preventing any runs from scoring.

While Lotte added two more runs in the 8th inning, NC could not score in the top of the 9th inning either. With no outs and runners on first and second base, Kim Ju-won flew out to right field, Lee Woo-seong struck out swinging on three pitches, and Park Min-woo flew out to center field, leading to their defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original