'Three hits, five RBIs' impending FA Choi Ji-hoon soared; SSG's '57-day wait' for four-game winning streak... closing in on 6th-place NC by 1.5 games after their seven-game losing skid

*This content was translated by AI.

Impending free agent (FA) Choi Ji-hoon (29, SSG Landers) soared. Batting second, he tied his personal record for most RBIs in a game and led his team to victory.

SSG secured a 10-5 victory over Kiwoom Heroes at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 20th in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game.

After going 57 days without a win streak since July 25, SSG extended their winning streak to four games, improving their record to 58 wins, 69 losses, and 5 ties. With NC falling into a seven-game losing skid, the gap has narrowed to 1.5 games. SSG holds an advantage in head-to-head matchups against NC this season with 7 wins, 3 losses, and 2 ties in 12 games. With four more direct matchups remaining, a comeback by SSG alone remains possible.

Starting pitcher Kim Geon-woo's performance was somewhat disappointing. He allowed Matt Davis' lead-off solo home run (his 21st of the season) in the top of the first inning. In the second inning, he recorded consecutive strikeouts against Lim Byung-wook and Yeo Dong-wook, but a two-seam fastball thrown to Kim Dong-heon drifted toward the middle of the plate, resulting in a solo home run that cleared the left-field fence. It was Kim Dong-heon's second home run of the season.

SSG also gave up runs in the third inning. After allowing a single to leadoff batter Keston Hiura into right field, they surrendered a one-RBI double to Park Chan-hyuk. Even after recording two outs, they allowed a one-RBI sacrifice fly to Yeo Dong-wook and fell behind 0-4.

The offense stepped up. In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and runners on second and third bases following hits by Lee Ji-young and Kim Jeong-min, Choi Ji-hoon powerfully lifted a sweeper from Ha Young-min located low and inside. The ball soared straight toward right field and cleared the fence, instantly narrowing the deficit to one run. This was Choi Ji-hoon's 13th home run of the season.

After Kim Geon-woo held the opposition scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, the offense intensified further. In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, Park Sung-han hit a double. Choi Ji-hoon followed with a one-RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Guillermo Heredia's one-RBI double gave SSG the lead. Kim Jae-hwan then added a one-RBI sacrifice fly.

The offensive momentum for SSG did not easily fade. In the bottom of the sixth inning against reliever Kim Seon-gi, Jeon Ui-san and Lee Ji-young drew walks, followed by Hong Dae-in's sacrifice bunt. With two outs and runners on second and third bases, pinch-hitter Oh Tae-gon hit a two-RBI sacrifice fly to extend the lead.

With two outs and a runner on second base, Choi Ji-hoon delivered another one-RBI sacrifice fly against Yoon Seok-won. Choi tied his personal record for most RBIs in a single game. This marked his third time achieving five RBIs in a game, following performances on October 17, 2021, against Lotte at Sajik Stadium (Designated Hitter) and September 13, 2025, against Lotte at Sajik Stadium.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kim Jae-hwan, leading off against reliever Kim Yun-ha, hit a go-ahead solo home run. This was his 23rd home run of the season.

SSG's bullpen, activated from the sixth inning onward, remained solid. Moon Seung-won started in the sixth, followed by Lee Geon-wook in the seventh and Shota Takeda in the eighth, all maintaining scoreless pitching.

Park Si-hoo, who entered in the ninth inning, struggled slightly. He committed a wild pitch with two outs and runners on first and third, allowing one run. However, Jeon Young-jun came in and induced Lim Byung-wook to swing and miss for a strikeout. Although it was a strikeout not out, catcher Lee Ji-young touched home plate to end the game.

Kim Geon-woo, who threw 84 pitches over five innings, recorded eight hits allowed, two walks, five strikeouts, and four earned runs. With support from his offense, he secured his ninth win of the season (falling to 10 losses).

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*This content was translated by AI.