SSG Landers swept the three-game series.
SSG won the eighth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the KIA Tigers 5-4 at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on Monday. The three-game series sweep improved SSG’s record to 35 wins, one draw and 18 losses. The team also maintained its 6-2 head-to-head record against KIA.
Guillermo Heredia went 4-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, while Kim Min-sik went 4-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. Choi Jung-jeong went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, including the game-winning hit.
KIA, on the other hand, was unable to capitalize on a shaky mound and fell to its knees. Shawn Anderson pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five, but was unable to prevent the loss. KIA, which has lost three straight, is now 23-27 on the season 안전놀이터.
SSGS opened the scoring in the first inning. In the first inning, leadoff hitter Choi Ji-hoon led off with a single to right. Park Sung-young continued the offense with a walk, and when Choi Jung-jeong singled to center field, Choi Ji-hoon advanced to third base. Choi Joo-hwan grounded out to second base, and the runners came home to take the first run. Guillermo Heredia followed with an RBI single to left field.
SSG added one more run in the second inning. One out later, Kim Min-sik led off with a triple to right-center field. Kim was caught on a foul fly to the first baseman, but Choi Ji-hoon took advantage of a wild pitch by the opposing starter Anderson to score a run.
KIA answered right back. In the second inning, Kim Sun-bin singled, Lee Woo-sung walked, and Shin Bersu singled to load the bases, but Ryu Ji-hyuk drove in a run with a push ball. Park Chan-ho added another run with an infield single, and Socrates drew a walk to tie the game. With Choi Hyung-woo at bat, Jong-hoon Park was hit by a pitch to put the game out of reach.
SSG did not stand still. They regained the lead in the seventh inning. Kim Min-sik, who led off with a walk, took a 147-kilometer fastball from reliever Choi Ji-min for a leadoff single. Choi Ji-hoon reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and Park Sung-seong was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With runners on second and third, Choi Jeong hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give SSG the lead.
SSG didn’t score any more runs. Lee, Choi Min-jun, and Moon Seung-won came on to close out the game without allowing another run.