The Lotte Giants stopped the Samsung Lions' four-game winning streak thanks to Jang Du-seong's go-ahead hit. Lotte defeated Samsung 7-5 on the road at Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 23rd. Samsung, meanwhile, saw its winning streak end at '3'.
Lotte arranged its batting order as center fielder Hwang Seong-bin, second baseman Go Seung-min, right fielder Víctor Reyes, first baseman Na Seung-yeop, left fielder Jeon Jun-woo, shortstop Jeon Min-jae, designated hitter Kim Dong-hyun, third baseman Park Seung-wook and catcher Son Seong-bin. The starting pitcher was Park Se-woong.
Opposing Lotte, Samsung set its starting lineup as right fielder Kim Seong-yoon, left fielder Koo Ja-wook, designated hitter Choi Hyung-woo, first baseman Lewin Díaz, second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk, catcher Kang Min-ho, third baseman Jeon Byung-woo, shortstop Lee Jae-hyun and center fielder Kim Ji-chan. Jang Chan-hee took the mound as the starter.
Samsung struck first. In the first inning, consecutive hits by Kim Seong-yoon and Koo Ja-wook and a walk by Ryu Ji-hyuk created a bases-loaded, two-out chance. Kang Min-ho delivered two runs with a hit through the 1-2 hole.
After Lotte missed the bases-loaded, two-out chance in the first, Kim Dong-hyun and Park Seung-wook hit consecutive doubles in the second to cut the deficit by one. Son Seong-bin was retired on an infield grounder for the first out. With Hwang Seong-bin at bat, Park Seung-wook stole third to create a runner at third with one out, and Hwang Seong-bin's sacrifice fly to center tied the game at 2-2.
Tied 2-2 in the fifth, leadoff hitter Víctor Reyes reached on a hit. Na Seung-yeop and Jeon Jun-woo were retired on flyouts to the outfield, and the momentum seemed to stall, but Jeon Min-jae drew a walk. With two outs and runners on first and second, Kim Dong-hyun hit the ball toward right field. Samsung's Kim Seong-yoon dove but the ball slipped past him, and two runners scored. Kim Dong-hyun reached third in the meantime. Park Seung-wook followed with a double to left-center to add another run.
Samsung produced the promised eighth inning. After one out, consecutive hits by Jeon Byung-woo, Lee Jae-hyun and Kim Ji-chan created a bases-loaded chance. Kim Seong-yoon struck out swinging, dousing the rally. Koo Ja-wook hit the ball toward left field, and left fielder Víctor Reyes and shortstop Jeon Min-jae collided and failed to field the ball. All the runners scored. The game was deadlocked at 5-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lotte also produced a bases-loaded chance after two outs following a double by Go Seung-min, an automatic intentional walk to Víctor Reyes and a walk to Na Seung-yeop. Jang Du-seong hit an infield single to right, bringing home two runners. It was 7-5.
Lotte starter Park Se-woong left the mound having done enough for his second win of the season, allowing eight hits, three walks, four strikeouts and two runs over 6 1/3 innings. But the bullpen allowed the tying runs, leaving a bitter aftertaste.
Samsung starter Jang Chan-hee struggled, allowing eight hits, three walks, five strikeouts and five runs over 4 2/3 innings. Koo Ja-wook finished the day with four hits and three RBIs, but it was overshadowed by the team's loss.
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