The Lotte Giants in professional baseball secured their first victory of the season after an extra inning battle, breaking free from a two-game losing streak to start the season.

Lotte defeated the SSG Landers 3-2 in a game held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 25th in the "2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League," washing away the disappointment of losing the first two games of the season.

Having lost both games against Doosan to start the season, Lotte fielded a lineup that included Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Jeong Bo-geun (catcher). Lotte’s batting lineup struck 10 hits, and Son Ho-young contributed with 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored, including the game-winning hit in the 11th inning.

Starting pitcher Tucker Davidson delivered a strong performance with 7 innings, allowing 3 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 1 earned run. The bullpen, comprised of Jeong Cheol-won (1 inning, no earned runs), Kim Won-jung (1 inning, 1 earned run), Park Jun-woo (1 inning, no earned runs), Jeong Hyun-soo (0 innings, no earned runs), and Park Jin (1 inning, no earned runs), preserved the team’s victory. Jeong Cheol-won recorded his first hold since joining Lotte.

SSG set their starting lineup with Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Seong-han (shortstop), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Lee Ji-young (catcher), Ko Myeong-jun (designated hitter), Park Ji-hwan (third baseman), and Ha Jae-hun (right fielder). Ha Jae-hun and Heredia both hit their first home run of the season, pushing the game into extra innings, but ultimately could not change the outcome.

Starting pitcher Moon Seung-won delivered a quality start with 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs, but did not receive run support from the batting lineup. The bullpen, consisting of Noh Gyeong-eun (1 inning, no earned runs), Han Du-sol (⅓ inning, no earned runs), Kim Min (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Lee Ro-woon (1 inning, no earned runs), Jo Byeong-hyeon (1⅓ innings, 1 earned run), and Seo Jin-yong (⅔ inning, no earned runs), pitched well, but could not prevent the team’s defeat. With this loss, SSG ended its season-opening two-game winning streak.

In the top of the first inning, Lotte’s lead-off batter Ko Seung-min reached base on a walk. After Na Seung-yeop’s double, with one out and runners on second and third, Reyes produced a sacrifice fly to put the team on the scoreboard first. Yoon Dong-hee was retired on a fly out to the left fielder.

In the bottom of the first inning, SSG’s lead-off hitter Choi Ji-hoon walked to reach base. Jung Jun-jae hit a ground ball to the pitcher, resulting in the lead runner being out, but an error on the pitcher allowed him to advance to second base. With one out and a runner on second, Park Seong-han struck out, and Heredia also flew out to the right fielder, ending the inning without a score.

In the top of the fifth inning, Lotte’s lead-off batter Son Ho-young drew a walk, and Jeon Min-jae’s sacrifice bunt created a one-out, two-on chance. Jeong Bo-geun delivered a 2-run double, giving the team the lead again. Right fielder Ha Jae-hun made an effort but failed to catch the ball. Hwang Seong-bin and Ko Seung-min both were silent and could not capitalize on the additional scoring opportunity.

In the seventh inning, Lotte’s lead-off hitter Jeon Jun-woo reached base with a hit. However, Son Ho-young, Jeon Min-jae, and Jeong Bo-geun were all retired on outs. SSG also seized a one-out, two-on chance in the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk from lead-off hitter Oh Tae-gon and a sacrifice bunt from Lee Ji-young, but Ko Myeong-jun hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Oh Tae-gon advanced to third on a wild pitch, but with two outs and a runner on third, Park Ji-hwan ground out to third base.

In the eighth inning, Lotte’s lead-off batter, pinch hitter Jeong Hoon, hit a single. Ko Seung-min attempted a sacrifice bunt, and the ball neatly passed over the pitcher’s head, becoming a successful bunt hit. Na Seung-yeop tried a sacrifice bunt again, but this time first baseman Oh Tae-gon made a great defensive play to get the runner at third, resulting in one out with runners on first and second. Reyes's ground ball hit pitcher Han Du-sol and became an infield hit. Han Du-sol, hit by the ball, was replaced by Kim Min with one out and the bases loaded.

With a big scoring opportunity, Yoon Dong-hee hit a sharp line drive but narrowly missed a foul home run. Afterward, Lotte grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, quickly wasting the chance. Lotte again created a no-out, two-on opportunity in the eighth inning when Jang Du-seong hit an infield single to shortstop and stole second base. Son Ho-young and Jeon Min-jae both grounded out, and Jeong Bo-geun walked on an automatic intentional walk. In the ensuing two outs with runners on first and second, pinch hitter Choi Hang struck out.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, SSG's lead-off hitter, Heredia, connected on a game-tying solo home run, bringing the score back to even.

In the top of the 10th inning, Lotte's lead-off batter, pinch hitter Yoo Gang-nam, drew a walk. However, Na Seung-yeop struck out, and Reyes’s line drive to first became a double play, ending the attack in disappointment.

In the bottom of the 10th inning, SSG's lead-off hitter Park Ji-hwan reached base on a walk. However, he was caught stealing second after a video review, and Ha Jae-hun also struck out swinging.

In the top of the 11th inning, Lotte's lead-off hitter Yoon Dong-hee reached base with an infield single to third and advanced to second on a throwing error, creating a no-out, two-on opportunity. With one out and a runner on third following Jang Du-seong’s sacrifice bunt, Son Ho-young delivered a clutch hit, bringing Lotte back into the lead again. With Jeon Min-jae walking, there were runners on first and second with one out, but Jeong Bo-geun grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, resulting in no additional runs.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, SSG's lead-off hitter Choi Ji-hoon reached base on a walk, creating the last opportunity. Jung Jun-jae’s sacrifice bunt was unsuccessful as the runner on first was caught at second base, but Park Seong-han then drew a walk, creating a one-out, two-on opportunity. Heredia flew out to the second baseman, and Oh Tae-gon was eventually retired on a ground ball, and SSG could not capitalize on its final chance.

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