The Samsung Lions of professional baseball were caught off guard by the bottom-ranked Kiwoom Heroes despite losing 'homegrown ace' Won Tae-in.

Samsung lost the away game against Kiwoom in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League 0-9 at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 28th.

Recently on a three-game losing streak, Samsung remains in 7th place with a record of 39 wins, 38 losses, and 1 tie (winning percentage .506). The 10th-place Kiwoom holds a record of 24 wins, 54 losses, and 3 ties (winning percentage .308).

Samsung's starting pitcher Won Tae-in allowed 8 runs (7 earned) with 7 hits (4 home runs), 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts over 5 innings, marking the worst pitching performance of the season. Victimized for the 3rd time this season (with 6 wins), Won Tae-in's earned run average rose from 2.59 to 3.13.

From the start of the first inning, he allowed two home runs and gave up 3 runs. Won Tae-in, after throwing a high fastball on the 5th pitch to Kiwoom's lead-off hitter Song Seong-moon, gave up a solo home run. He also allowed a two-run homer to Lee Ju-hyung, who hit a changeup that was high and inside on the 4th pitch. This marked his 8th home run of the season.

In the 2nd inning, Won Tae-in also conceded a home run to Song Seong-moon. He threw a changeup on the 3rd pitch, but Song Seong-moon crushed the ball over the center field fence. The solo shot traveled 130 meters. After hitting a go-ahead two-run homer against Samsung's closer Lee Ho-seong in the 8th inning the previous day (27th), Song Seong-moon recorded home runs in three consecutive at-bats, increasing his season total to 13 home runs. This three consecutive at-bats home run marked the 58th record in league history.

Though it seemed like Won Tae-in was regaining stability by retiring the side in the 3rd and 4th innings, he allowed 4 runs in a big inning in the 5th. After giving up hits to Song Seong-moon and Choi Joo-hwan and hitting the batter Joo Seong-won, he faced a bases-loaded situation with 2 outs, where he surrendered a grand slam home run to Stone Garrett. Stone hit a slider that was on the 3rd pitch right down the middle, sending it over the center field fence. The hit traveled 130 meters, marking his first career home run in the KBO League.

Won Tae-in's 8 runs allowed were the most he has given up this season and the second most since debuting in 2019. His highest record came on August 22, 2019, when he allowed 10 runs (2⅓ innings) against Doosan. The 4 home runs allowed is a personal high, surpassing the previous record of 3 home runs allowed in 5 games.

In June alone, Samsung has suffered 5 comeback losses after leading in 5 games, and with the bullpen struggling, they could not end their losing streak even with their consistently good starter Won Tae-in faltering. Compounding matters, 'slugger' Park Byung-ho was sidelined due to injury and remained scoreless in this game.

Park Byung-ho felt pain in his left side while at bat in the 6th inning against Kiwoom the previous day (27th) and, after examination, was diagnosed with a minor damage to the internal obliques, requiring 3-4 weeks of rest and rehabilitation. In June, he has shown a resurgence, batting .265 (9 hits in 34 at-bats) with 6 home runs and 13 RBIs, leading the Samsung lineup, making his absence even more painful for the team.

Meanwhile, Kiwoom has won two consecutive games against Samsung, improving to a record of 24 wins, 54 losses, and 3 ties (winning percentage .308). Song Seong-moon had a barrage of offense with 5 hits, including a home run in consecutive at-bats, scoring 2 RBIs, bringing down Won Tae-in. His 5 hits mark a personal record for most hits in a single game, tying the record set since August 9, 2018, against Hanwha. Kiwoom's starter Alcantara earned his 3rd win of the season (with 2 losses), pitching 6⅓ innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts without allowing a run.

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