Lotte Giants successfully turned the tide with the perfect performance of foreign pitcher Alex Gamboa. In his first start of the season, Gamboa showcased impressive pitching, marking his first win in the KBO League, while Lotte continued their season undefeated against the Kiwoom Heroes.
On the 3rd, in a regular season game of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Sajik Stadium in Busan, Lotte achieved a complete victory of 8-0 against Kiwoom. This victory allowed Lotte to break free from a recent two-game losing streak and successfully turn the tide.
The main character of the game was undoubtedly Alex Gamboa. Making his first start in front of home fans after debuting in the KBO League, Gamboa allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk over 7 innings while striking out 6 batters, maintaining a scoreless game with a fastball reaching a top speed of 155 km/h and sharp breaking balls.
The batting lineup also responded to Gamboa's strong performance. From the first inning, Lotte took control of the game by aggressively attacking the opposing mound, especially as the key hitters performed vigorously, achieving high scores. Reyes led the offense with 3 hits and 2 walks, including a two-run home run in the first inning, resulting in 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Go Seung-min contributed with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 5 at-bats, and veteran Jeon Jun-woo also had a strong performance with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats.
After the game, an emotional moment for Gamboa also drew attention. His two older brothers came to the Sajik Stadium to cheer for his first win. After the game ended, Gamboa's brothers celebrated his first KBO victory by splashing water with the team, and Gamboa responded to the cheers of the fans with a bright smile.
With this victory, Lotte recorded their 7th consecutive win against Kiwoom this season, maintaining absolute dominance. In the next game, they aim for further advancement based on this momentum.
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