SSG Landers Edge Samsung Lions in Dramatic Finish
The SSG Landers pulled off a stunning upset at Samsung Lions Park on Monday night, scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to secure a 5-4 victory over the second-place Lions. Jo Hyung-woo delivered the decisive blow with a clutch single up the middle with two outs and runners on the corners, snapping what had been a tight, well-pitched contest throughout the evening.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSG Landers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| Samsung Lions | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
It wasn’t the kind of performance that jumps off the page statistically. Both offenses struggled to generate consistent pressure, with runners left stranded and opportunities squandered. Yet somehow, in the compressed tension of the ninth frame, the Landers found exactly what they needed when it mattered most.
Samsung, sitting comfortably in second place with a 65-44 record entering the game, appeared positioned to cruise. The Lions featured strong pitching early, with starter Fedak working six innings of efficient baseball. But the Landers’ pitching staff matched that intensity, keeping the deficit manageable and staying within striking distance.
The defining moment came down to execution and timing. The Lions’ bullpen, which had been largely solid down the stretch, simply couldn’t navigate the ninth inning’s complications. With the game hanging in the balance, Jo’s liner found its way through the infield grass, and two runs scored before Samsung could react.
Pitching Performance
The Landers’ starter Kim Min-jun set a steady tone, allowing just five hits across six innings while striking out two. He walked a pair but surrendered only one run, establishing a foundation that kept his team competitive. The bullpen was even more impressive. Kim Min pitched a clean seventh, while Young-jun Jeon earned the win by retiring two batters in a single inning of work, though he did allow a pair of hits. Closer Jo Byung-hyun secured the save by navigating a treacherous ninth inning despite permitting two base hits and a walk.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSG Landers | ||||||
| Kim Min-jun | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Kim Min | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeon Young-jun [W] | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jo Byung-hyun [S] | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Samsung Lions | ||||||
| Fedec | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Kim Tae-hun | 0 ⅔ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Seung-min | 1 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Jae-yoon [L] | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jang Chan-hee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Samsung’s Fedak was nearly as effective as Landers’ Kim Min-jun. The visiting starter allowed just four hits over six innings and struck out nine batters, an impressive strikeout rate that underscored his control. Where Samsung’s pitching fell apart was in the late innings. The Lions cycled through Kim Tae-hoon, Lee Seung-min, Kim Jae-yoon, and Chang Chan-hee without establishing any rhythm, and crucially, Kim Jae-yoon couldn’t record a single out while allowing four runs off four consecutive hits in the eighth. That inning essentially decided the contest.
Offensive Highlights
Chi Ji-hun provided the Landers with their early offensive spark, belting a solo home run off Fedak in the fourth inning for his 12th of the season. That blast kept SSG in contention during the middle innings when runs were hard to come by. The Landers’ lineup otherwise operated within small margins—the team managed just four hits through five innings.
Choi Hyung-woo answered for Samsung with a solo shot of his own in the eighth, his 14th homer this season, which had briefly cut the deficit to one. That home run looked like it might be the deciding factor, but it ultimately proved insignificant.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSG Landers | |||||
| Jung Jun-jae | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Choi Ji-hun | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jeon Ui-san | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jo Hyung-woo | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Samsung Lions | |||||
| Park Seung-gyu | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gu Ja-wook | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Choi Hyung-woo | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jeon Byung-woo | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jeon Ui-san provided secondary contributions for the Landers, collecting two hits in four at-bats. For the Lions, Jeon Byung-woo went 3-for-3, reaching base safely every time he stepped in the box, yet couldn’t capitalize on that consistency. Gu Ja-uk drove in two runs and swiped a base late, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the pitching miscues.
Key Play
The winning play was straightforward in its execution but devastating in its consequence. With runners stationed at first and third and two outs in the ninth, Jo Hyung-woo got hold of a pitch and drove it through the infield. What could have been a routine ground ball instead found grass, allowing both runners to score. The Lions’ defense, which had committed errors in both the seventh and ninth innings, couldn’t recover from yet another late-inning breakdown.
Standings Impact
The loss stings for Samsung, which remains entrenched in second place with a 65-45 record after the defeat. The Landers, meanwhile, stay buried in ninth at 45-65, but this kind of upset victory can provide momentum and confidence heading into the final weeks of the season. In a tight pennant race, even teams fighting from deep holes can impact the contenders around them.