Lotte Giants Stage Dramatic Comeback
The Lotte Giants clinched a 10-7 extra-inning triumph over the SSG Landers on May 1 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon, delivering their first 10-run outburst of the season. This victory signals a potential turnaround from their ninth-place standing.
Lotte trailed 0-3 before exploding for six runs in the sixth inning. SSG responded with three in the bottom of the seventh to tie it at 6-6. In the 10th, Jang Du-seong’s home run and Park Sung-wook’s clutch hit drove in the go-ahead runs.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung Voices Caution
Despite the win, manager Kim Tae-hyung remains wary. “The top of the lineup isn’t producing enough,” he stated. “Against strong teams, core hitters must deliver. The bottom order shows too much inconsistency; the heart of the lineup needs to step up. Reyes notched hits, but his timing feels off. Overall pace lags significantly.”
Lineup and Key Adjustments
Lotte deployed Jang Du-seong (CF), Yoon Dong-hee (RF), Reyes (LF), Yoo Kang-nam (DH), Kim Min-seong (1B), Park Sung-wook (3B), Jeon Min-jae (SS), Son Sung-bin (C), and Han Tae-yang (2B) as their starting lineup.
Jeon Jun-woo went hitless in four at-bats from the fifth spot. Kim explained the substitution: “That spot usually calls for Yoon Dong-hee. But right now, Yoo Kang-nam offers the sharpest feel among him, Jeon Jun-woo, and Yoon.”
Season Stats and SSG Matchup
Prior to this game, Lotte ranked ninth in team batting average at .248, with a selected average of 3.56 placing third. Limited power contributed to recent struggles.
SSG starter Veneziano allowed 8 hits—including one homer—two walks, four strikeouts, and three runs over five innings in this matchup. Kim assessed: “He has excellent stuff but shows inconsistency. We’ll monitor his condition closely.”
