The professional baseball SSG Landers smiled after a marathon game.
On the 9th, SSG secured a comeback victory of 3-1 against the Samsung Lions in the second game of the season held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park after an 11-inning battle. This allowed them to reclaim second place in just one day.
SSG arranged the batting order with center fielder 최지훈, second baseman 정준재, left fielder 에레디아, right fielder 한유섬, first baseman 고명준, shortstop 박성한, catcher 이지영, designated hitter 최준우, and third baseman 김성현. Foreign pitcher Drew Anderson took the mound as the starter.
Samsung, which featured foreign pitcher Ariel Hurado as the starter, constructed their lineup with shortstop 이재현, center fielder 김성윤, third baseman 김영웅, catcher 강민호, first baseman 르윈 디아즈, left fielder 구자욱, designated hitter 박병호, second baseman 류지혁, and right fielder 윤정빈.
As expected in an ace matchup, the game showcased a tight pitching duel. The first to break the balance was Samsung. In the fifth inning, leadoff hitter 구자욱 struck against SSG starter Drew Anderson. He pulled a fastball (151 km) for a solo home run that traveled 120 meters.
Then SSG equalized the game in the seventh inning with a hit from 고명준. With no outs and no runners on base, 고명준 stepped up to the plate. In a 1B-0S count against Samsung starter Ariel Hurado, he targeted the second pitch changeup and hit a solo home run to left field, tying the game at 1-1.
In the 10th inning, SSG had a chance with two outs and runners on first and second due to hits from 이지영 and 김성현, but they could not convert it into runs. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Samsung had a scoring opportunity with a leadoff double down the left field line by pinch hitter 김헌곤. Although 이재현 struck out, 김성윤 got an infield hit and stole second base to set up a chance for runners on second and third. However, 김영웅 struck out swinging.
Facing a 1-1 tie in the 11th inning, SSG capitalized on a hit by 정준재, a walk by 에레디아, and a sacrifice bunt by 한유섬 for a golden opportunity with one out and runners on second and third. 고명준 gave SSG a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to left field. Shortly after, 박성한 added to the lead with a timely hit. Samsung missed a chance with two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the 11th.
Both starting pitchers delivered excellent performances but did not earn the win. Samsung's Ariel Hurado threw 7 innings, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), striking out 8, and giving up just 1 run. SSG's Drew Anderson stayed on the mound until the 7th, giving up only 1 run in a superb outing. He set a personal record for most strikeouts in a single game with 13 and for the first time in his career completed 7 innings.
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