'Game suspended for 19 minutes': Lotte overcomes 'Soak Show' delay controversy to defeat NC 8-5 with Park Se-woong's 6⅔-inning quality start and Ko Seung-min's 10th home run [KBO Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Despite the game being interrupted by fireworks smoke, the Lotte Giants secured a victory with balanced performances from both their pitching and batting lines.

On the 15th, Lotte defeated NC Dinos 8-5 in a 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 seventh-place NC Dinos (46 wins, 2 ties, 51 losses) by 2.5 games.

A performance of 'Psy Soak Show 2026' was held at the nearby Busan Asiad Main Stadium on this day. Just as Lotte's offense was underway in the bottom of the sixth inning, fireworks smoke from the show drifted over to Sajik Baseball Stadium, causing a suspension during Park Seung-wook's at-bat. After a 19-minute wait, the game resumed at 9:01 p.m.

However, Lotte's batting lineup did not lose focus. With Lotte trailing 2-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and a runner on first base, Jeon Min-jae hit a two-run double to left-center field, tying the score at 2-2.

Following this, 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 missed opportunity in the bottom of the seventh inning. Leadoff batter Victor Reyes singled to left field, Han Dong-hee reached on a hit-by-pitch, and Ko Seung-min crushed 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). NC starter Won Jong-hae pitched four innings, allowing five hits, three walks, and two strikeouts, failing to complete five innings while surrendering two runs.

Returning to the closer role, Choi Jun-yong entered with no outs and a runner on first in the ninth inning. He recorded one hitless, walk-free, strikeout-filled scoreless inning for his 15th save of the season.

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 one home run) with three RBIs, one walk, and one run scored, marking his second double-digit home run season. 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.

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

NC countered with the following lineup: Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Kwon Hee-dong (left field), Park Min-woo (second base), Kim Hwi-jip (third base), Park Geon-woo (designated hitter), Blaine (first base), Park Si-won (right field), Ahn Jung-yeol (catcher), and Cheon Jae-hwan (center field). Won Jong-hae was the starting pitcher.

The first run belonged to home team Lotte. In the bottom of the first inning, Hwang Sung-bin singled to left field, followed by consecutive walks from 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 managed to take the lead. In the top of the third inning, leadoff 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 an additional run to score and tying the game at 2-2.

In the top of the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first base, Park Geon-woo hit a ground ball, and Han Tae-yang made another errant throw, prompting 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 due to smoke, Lotte scored four runs in a burst. In the top of the eighth inning, with no outs and a runner on first, Kim Hwi-jip hit a one-run double down the left-field line, cutting Lotte's lead by one run.

NC's inability to capitalize on subsequent opportunities was a missed chance. Park Geon-woo sacrificed to move the runner to third base with one out, but Blaine and Park Si-won both grounded out in succession, preventing any further scoring.

While Lotte added two more runs in the eighth inning, NC failed to score in the top of the ninth with no outs and runners on first and second. Kim Ju-won flew out to right field, Lee Woo-seong struck out looking on three pitches, and Park Min-woo flew out to center field, sealing their defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.