It started with Jung-In-geun and ended with Yoo Kang-nam. The Lotte Giants have completed their first series sweep in nearly four months.

Lotte won 15-4 against SSG Landers in the regular season of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League on Sunday at Sajik Stadium in Busan. With the series sweep, Lotte won its fourth straight game to improve to 50-51 on the season with a .495 winning percentage and is on the verge of returning to the five-win club. With Doosan’s loss on the day, KIA moved into fifth place and Lotte into sixth. SSG, on the other hand, was swept and fell to 55 wins, 44 losses, and one tie. They barely held on to second place.

Lotte had a bullpen day on the day, but managed to keep the SSG bats in check. Shim Jae-min pitched three innings of two-run ball and Han Hyun-hee pitched two scoreless innings to fulfill the 1+1 starting role. While Jung’s presence shined throughout the series, it was the returning catcher Yoo Kang-nam who led the way with a 3-hit, 2-RBI, 1-strikeout performance. Jeon Jun-woo continued his four-hit performance, while Yoon Dong-hee also had three doubles. The team scored nine runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete the victory.

Lotte’s starting lineup was Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Ahn Chi-hong (designated hitter), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Gudrum (third baseman), Kim Min-seok (center fielder), Park Seung-wook (second baseman), Noh Jin-hyuk (shortstop), and Ko Seung-min (first baseman). Catcher Yoo Kang-nam was named to the starting lineup as the No. 3 catcher upon his return. It was a bullpen day for Lotte, with Shim Jae-min starting as the first pitcher. Ahn Chi-hong, who suffered a bruised index finger on his right hand while fielding the previous game, will start the game as the designated hitter for now. Jung-hoon will pinch-hit. Earlier in the day, however, manager Larry Sutton suffered from dizziness due to accumulated fatigue and underwent a medical examination, and although he completed the press briefing, he decided to take a day off. Assistant coach Lee Jong-woon took over.

SSG batted right-handed against left-hander Shim Jae-min. Kim Kang-min (designated hitter), Kim Sung-hyun (second baseman), Kang Jin-sung (first baseman), Choi Jung (third baseman), Park Sung-sung (shortstop), Ha Jae-hoon (left fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Oh Tae-gon (right fielder), and Kim Min-sik (catcher) started. Choo Shin-soo, Hanyusum, Choi Joo-hwan, and other key left-handed hitters were used as a backup plan after Shim Jae-min was sent down.

Lotte’s bullpen day went well…Shim Jae-min + Han Hyun-hee combined for two runs in five innings

Lotte’s bullpen day started off with a bang, as the pitchers who came out early were able to keep SSG’s bats in check and even take the lead.

Lotte took the lead in the first inning. They took the lead against a shaky SSG Oh Won-seok. In the first inning, Yoon Dong-hee singled and Yoo Kang-nam walked to put runners on first and second. Jeon Jun-woo singled to right and later scored on an error by the right fielder. They had runners on second and third. Goodrum hit an infield single to third base to load the bases and Kim Min-seok hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 2-0.

Shim Jae-min and Han Hyun-hee combined to pitch five innings of two-run ball. Shim gave up two runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings. Sim’s record and Lotte’s early momentum could have been better if not for an error by right fielder Yoon Dong-hee in the second inning.

In the second inning, Choi Jung was hit by a pitch and Park Sung-ho singled to right field to put runners on first and third with no outs. Right fielder Yoon Dong-hee couldn’t catch the drop point and advanced on the line drive, and the ball went over Yoon’s glove. The ball barely caught the tip of his glove, preventing a bigger disaster. He then gave up a single to left to Ha Jae-hoon. After a sacrifice bunt by Choi Ji-hoon, runners were put on second and third on a grounder to shortstop by Oh Tae-gon, tying the game at 2-2.

Silent SSG, betrayed by the most trusted team in the world…killed off an upset opportunity

SSG had a chance to take the lead immediately after tying the game. In the top of the third inning, Kim Kang-min led off with a walk. A grounder to shortstop by Kim Sung-hyun put runners on first and second, but Kang Jin-sung singled to left to put runners on first and third with Choi Jung at the plate. However, Choi hit a grounder to shortstop, and it turned into a 6-4-3 double play. From there, it looked like the opportunity would come again, but SSG was ultimately unfortunate not to capitalize.

Lotte’s fearsome firepower doesn’t let them down

Lotte took advantage of the opportunities that came their way and piled on the runs. In the top of the third inning, back-to-back singles by Yoo Kang-nam and Jeon Jun-woo put runners on first and third, and Gudrum’s infield single made it 3-2.

In the fourth, Yoon Dong-hee doubled and Ahn Chi-hong walked to put runners on first and second with back-to-back RBI singles by Yoo Kang-nam and Jeon Jun-woo to score two runs and make it 5-2.

In the sixth inning, Yoon Dong-hee doubled and Ahn Chi-hong walked to put runners on first and second with one out, and Jeon Jun-woo singled to left to make it 6-2. With runners on first and second, Gudrum singled to right, but was thrown out at home by Ahn Chi-hong. SSG Oh Tae-gon’s home run prevented further runs.

Overcoming an error, SSG made a last-ditch effort…

In the bottom of the seventh inning, SSG committed back-to-back throwing errors by second baseman Kim Sung-hyun and shortstop Park Sung-yi. The bases were loaded, but Ko Hyo-joon controlled the situation and did not allow a run to score. They scored two runs in the top of the eighth. Choi Joo-hwan singled to left, Kim Sung-hyun walked to put runners on first and second, and Kang Jin-sung singled to score a run. With runners on first and third, Choi Jung’s sacrifice fly made it 4-6. Park Sung-hyun’s grounder to the third baseman resulted in an error by Lotte, putting runners on first and third. However, Han Yoo-seom struck out and Choi Ji-hoon grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.

However, SSG’s chase became meaningless. They brought in Noh Kyung-eun, but Lotte took advantage. After singles by Ahn Kwon-soo and Kim Min-seok put runners on first and third, Park Seung-wook hit a wedge double to center field, scoring Jung-hoon. Yoon Dong-hee and Ahn Chi-hong followed with back-to-back doubles to score three more runs. The inning continued and Lotte scored nine runs in the bottom of the eighth. SSG threw in the towel. 먹튀검증