KBO Recap: Lotte Giants 13-6 Samsung Lions | September 20 Highlights & Scores

Game Summary

The Lotte Giants came alive at home on September 20th, overwhelming the visiting Samsung Lions 13-6 in a lopsided affair that saw the second-place Lions’ bats unable to keep pace with an offensive outburst. What looked like it could be competitive early—Samsung actually led 3-0 through two innings—quickly turned south once Lotte’s lineup found its rhythm. The Giants scored nine runs over the fourth and fifth innings to blow the game wide open, and despite Samsung’s late-inning heroics, there was no comeback available.

Pitching Performance

Samsung’s pitching staff fell apart almost immediately after the second inning. Starter Won Tae-in lasted just three and one-third innings, allowing eleven hits and nine earned runs while walking two. The bullpen offered little relief: Lee Seung-hyun came in for just a third of an inning and walked three batters before being pulled. Reliever Yang Chang-seop managed to keep things relatively stable with one inning of work, while Lee Seung-hyun returned later to pitch two and one-third scoreless frames. The damage, however, was already done by that point.

For Lotte, the pitching was far steadier despite some early struggles. Kim Tae-gyun allowed three runs in his first two innings, but the Giants’ bullpen was exceptional once the game was in hand. Jin-ha Lee, credited with the win, pitched two innings of one-run ball. Park Se-jin threw just under two innings while giving up two runs, and then Hyun Do-hoon and Gu Seung-min combined for three and one-third innings of scoreless relief to close things out.

Offensive Highlights

For all the runs Lotte put on the board, the damage came from a team effort rather than any single hero. Hwang Sung-bin paced the lineup with two hits and three RBIs. Han Dong-hee went 3-for-5 and drove in a run. Rey Reyes contributed two hits and two RBIs, while Ko Seung-min added two hits and knocked in two more runs. The Giants simply had too many bats in the mix and enough patience to capitalize on Samsung’s pitching struggles.

Samsung’s offensive contributions came down to individual moments. Diaz went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBIs total, keeping his team’s hopes alive at points. Kim Do-hwan also connected for a home run in the fourth inning and finished with two hits and two RBIs. Choi Hyung-woo added a hit and an RBI. The problem was that these isolated instances weren’t enough to answer Lotte’s sustained assault.

Key Play of the Game

The turning point came in the fourth inning when Rey Reyes ripped a bases-loaded single to left-center with one out, scoring runners and putting Lotte ahead for good. That hit essentially signaled the beginning of the end for Samsung’s chances. The Lions did threaten to climb back—Diaz’s two-run homer in the sixth cut into the deficit—but by then the Giants had too much cushion and too much momentum.

Standings Impact

The loss does little to change Samsung’s position as the second-place team in the standings, remaining at 76 wins, 3 draws, and 52 losses. For Lotte, the victory is a bright spot in a difficult season; the Giants sit in eighth place with 56 wins, 2 draws, and 71 losses. While this win won’t significantly alter the playoff picture, it’s the kind of dominant home victory that could build confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.