The Lotte Giants of the Korea Professional Baseball League achieved their third consecutive victory thanks to Alex Gamboa's strong pitching, Jung Hoon's key homer, and the dedication of the winning pitchers with three consecutive games.

Lotte won 3-1 in the eighth matchup against the Samsung Lions of the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League' regular season held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 20th. With this victory, Lotte raced to three consecutive wins, securing third place in the league with 40 wins (31 losses 3), and expanded their lead over fourth place Samsung to 2.5 games. Samsung, on the other hand, fell into a two-game losing streak, leaving them with a season record of 38 wins, 34 losses, and 1 tie.

Samsung's starting lineup comprised Park Seung-kyu (right fielder), Kim Seung-yoon (center fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Diaz (first baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Park Byung-ho (designated hitter), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Yang Woo-hyeon (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Kim Dae-ho.

Lotte's starting players were Kim Dong-hyeok (center fielder), Go Seung-min (first baseman), Reyes (right fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Jung Hoon (designated hitter), Kim Min-sung (third baseman), Han Tae-yang (second baseman), Jeung Bo-keun (catcher), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop).

Samsung seized an opportunity first against Gamboa. However, they couldn't bring anyone home. In the first inning, with one out, Kim Seung-yoon got on base with a walk and successfully stole second base on a strikeout by Koo Ja-wook, creating a two-out, second base opportunity. However, Diaz struck out, missing the scoring chance.

In the second inning, leadoff hitter Kang Min-ho reached base with a double to left field, creating a scoring opportunity. Jeon Byeong-woo's ground ball to the third baseman advanced the runners to first and third with one out, but Park Byung-ho and Ryu Ji-hyuk struck out consecutively, letting the opportunity slip away.

Lotte did not miss an opportunity with two outs in the second inning. The opponent's defensive error contributed. With two outs, Kim Min-sung reached base with a hit to right field. Samsung's right fielder Park Seung-kyu mishandled the falling ball, allowing the hit to happen. Following this, Han Tae-yang drew a walk, leading to a two-out opportunity with runners on first and second. Jeung Bo-keun then hit a two-run double down the left field line on the first pitch by Kim Dae-ho, putting Lotte ahead 2-0.

As the game progressed, the rain began to fall heavier. Although there was initially no rain forecast, it developed later. In the fourth inning, with one out, Kim Min-sung reached base on a walk. Han Tae-yang popped out to center field, but Jeung Bo-keun had a single to right, and Jeon Min-jae drew a walk, setting up a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs. However, pinch hitter Yoo Kang-nam popped out to center, failing to score.

Then, Samsung created an opportunity in the top of the fifth. Perhaps due to the wet mound, Gamboa's control suddenly faltered. He allowed a walk to leadoff hitter Park Byung-ho and then permitted another walk to Ryu Ji-hyuk, placing runners on first and second with no outs. Samsung sent in pinch hitter Kim Ji-chan, who advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting up a one-out, second and third opportunity.

Yet, a strange situation occurred. Pinch hitter Yang Do-geun hit a ground ball to the third baseman. Third baseman Kim Min-sung and the runner on third, Park Byung-ho, had their paths cross, leading to a slight collision. Kim Min-sung continued the play and recorded an out at first against Yang Do-geun.

However, the umpires discussed the play, and third base umpire Kwon Young-cheol declared Park Byung-ho out as well. This was a defensive interference call. Lotte players returned to the dugout, and Samsung's manager Park Jin-man protested slightly before retreating. However, the umpires continued their discussion, requiring Lotte's starter Gamboa and the fielders to return.

The umpires' discussion was due to whether Park Byung-ho's defensive interference was intentional. That day, the crew chief, second base umpire Choi Soo-won, grabbed the microphone and explained, "There was contact between the runner and the fielder at third, establishing interference. However, if intent is absent, it will be a dead ball, resuming the game in a two-out situation on first and second bases." In other words, because the interference situation was established, Park Byung-ho was ruled out. However, by the discretion of the umpire, they judged that Park Byung-ho's contact was unintentional. Since the dead ball was declared at the moment of contact between Park Byung-ho and Kim Min-sung, batter Yang Do-geun was allowed to reach first base. The top of the fifth resumed with two outs and runners on first and second, but Samsung could not score. Kim Seung-yoon grounded out to the pitcher. The initial call was safe, but after video review, the call was overturned. Gamboa's throw appeared to be off-target, but at the moment the throw was received, first baseman Go Seung-min's foot was on the base. Gamboa escaped the fifth inning without allowing a run.

Before the top of the sixth, the game was halted for about seven minutes for ground maintenance, and although Gamboa allowed one hit in the sixth, he continued to pitch effectively and kept the game scoreless.

Samsung finally scored a point in the top of the seventh. Gamboa remained on the mound, and Park Byung-ho led off the seventh, hitting a solo homer over the left field fence on a 2-ball count against Gamboa's 151 km fastball. Having recorded two homers the day before (19th) against Doosan, including a grand slam, he hit another home run for two consecutive days. Following a walk to Ryu Ji-hyuk, the opportunity continued, and Gamboa left the mound. He completed six innings allowing four hits (one homer), four walks, nine strikeouts, and one run. However, during a fly ball to center field by Kim Ji-chan, the runner on first, Ryu Ji-hyuk, advanced to second but failed to return, leading to two outs. Ultimately, Samsung could not continue their rally in the top of the seventh.

Lotte's lineup continued to struggle, but in the eighth inning, with one out and no runners on, Jung Hoon hit a solo homer against Kim Jae-yoon over the left field fence, adding the long-awaited insurance run.

Despite Lotte's winning pitchers Jung Hyeon-su, Jeong Cheol-won, and others being on three consecutive games since the seventh, they made a bold decision to use them. And even closer Kim Won-jung took the mound in three consecutive games to secure the team's victory. Kim Won-jung achieved 20 saves for the third consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Lotte attempted to achieve a sold-out crowd for the 23rd consecutive game but fell short of the 22,669-seat capacity with 21,911 attendees, failing to sell out.

[OSEN]