Samsung Lions pitcher Yang Chang-seop throws from the mound during a baseball game against the SSG Landers on July 5.SAMSUNG LIONS
The Samsung Lions defeated the SSG Landers 13-3 on Sunday behind a strong outing by starting pitcher Yang Chang-seop and a powerful offense by hitters Kim Hyun-joon and Kang Min-ho.
The Lions moved within one game of the league-leading LG Twins with their fourth straight win, while the Landers slumped to a ninth consecutive game without a victory, including one draw.
It marked the Lions’ first three-game sweep over the Landers in 4,399 days, since June 17 to 19 in 2014, when the Landers played as the SK Wyverns.
The Lions broke the game open with four runs in the second inning. After two walks put runners on first and second with two outs, Kim Ji-chan lined an RBI single to right. Outfielder Kim Seong-yoon then beat out an infield hit to load the bases before Kim Hyun-joon drove a fastball from SSG starter Kim Keon-woo into the left-center gap for a bases-clearing double, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Kim Hyun-joon also flashed his glove in the third inning and caught a deep fly ball hit by Landers infielder Park Seong-han. He added singles in the fourth and sixth innings to finish 3-for-4 with four RBIs, one run scored and two walks.
Lions’ catcher Kang Min-ho anchored the win on both sides of the ball. The veteran catcher guided his partner pitcher Yang through five scoreless innings. Kang later delivered two knockout blows with three-run homers in both the fifth and sixth.
Samsung Lions catcher Kang Min-ho is rounds the bases in a KBO game against the SSG Landers on July 5.SAMSUNG LIONS
It marked Kang's first back-to-back home run game since Sept. 16, 2022, against the Doosan Bears in Daegu. He went 2-for-4 with six RBIs. Sunday’s records matched his career high for RBIs in a game since joining Samsung for the 2018 season. His career best remains eight RBIs, recorded with the Lotte Giants against the Bears on April 5, 2015.
Lions starter Yang scattered three hits over five scoreless innings before allowing five hits in the sixth inning. He then exited with two outs and runners on first and third.
Lions reliever Lee Jae-hee gave up one walk but escaped further damage. It left Yang’s record at 5 2/3 innings, seven hits, no walks, two strikeouts and three runs allowed, two earned. Backed by Samsung's offense, Yang improved to 7-0 on the season.
"I'm happy we won," Kim Hyun-joon said. "I was in the starting lineup today, and I just tried to do my best without putting too much pressure on myself. I knew I had to come through in scoring situations, and fortunately, things worked out. After the hit, I went over and hugged coach Park Han-yi because I wanted to hear him say I did a good job.”
Kim added that outfielders Park Seung-kyu and Kim Seong-yoon helped him with quality defensive plays.
"Yang Chang-seop pitched an outstanding game," Samsung manager Park Jin-man said. "He wobbled a bit in the sixth, but keeping them scoreless through five innings gave our offense momentum. He's been pitching well consistently lately, which gives us confidence.”
Park also praised the batters who knocked in runs.
"Batting third, Kim Hyun-joon put us in control of the game by delivering in every key moment," Park added. "Kang Min-ho's two three-run home runs were the decisive blows. Overall, it was a game in which our lineup produced from top to bottom.”
Doosan starter Choi Min-seok pitches at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on July 5.YONHAP
Elsewhere, Doosan defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 8-1 at Gocheok Sky Dome to secure their second straight victory.
The Bears improved to 42 wins, 40 losses and 2 ties to hang onto fifth place, the Heroes fell to 29-55-1 to occupy the bottom of the standings in 10th at the All-Star break.
Doosan starter Choi Min-seok allowed one run on five hits over six innings, striking out six and walking one to improve to 9-2, tying for the league lead in wins. He also lowered his ERA to 2.33, overtaking Kia Tigers right-hander Adam Oller, whose ERA stood at 2.36. Choi finished the first half atop the league ERA standings.
KT Wiz players celebrate their win over the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on July 1.NEWS1
In Suwon, the KT Wiz snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Giants, ending Lotte's two-game winning run.
With the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning, Kim Hyun-soo of the Wiz launched the go-ahead two-run homer off Giants’ bullpen pitcher Jeong Hyeon-su.
KT’s Sugimoto Koki earned his first KBO victory after tossing a scoreless eighth inning, while closer Park Yeong-hyun worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save of the season.
The scheduled games between Kia and the NC Dinos in Gwangju and LG and the Hanwha Eagles in Seoul were postponed because of rain.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
