SSG defeated Samsung in a close game to move within half a game of first-place LG.
SSG won an 8-7 road game against Samsung in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on June 26.
In a wild game that saw both teams combine for 30 hits (12 for SSG and 18 for Samsung), SSG held onto a one-run lead until the end. Seo Jin-yong, who came in with runners on first and second in the eighth inning, pitched two scoreless innings until the ninth to earn his 27th save of the season. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Seo took a straight hit from Kim Sung-yoon to end the game.
With 48 wins, 33 losses and one tie, second-place SSG is just half a game behind first-place LG (49 wins, 33 losses and two ties), which suffered its fifth consecutive defeat with a late loss to KT in Suwon earlier in the day.
After the game, SSG head coach Kim Won-hyung said, “It was a tough game, but we were able to secure the victory by showing great concentration in both at-bats. Seo Jin-yong came in with runners on first and second in the eighth inning and did a great job with a two-inning save. We gave up a run, but the bullpen did their job,” he said. “On offense, we 토토 were able to win the game thanks to Kang Jin-sung’s game-winning home run and the focused hitting of Ha Jae-hoon, Kim Sung-hyun, and Kim Min-sik.”
Kim also thanked the fans for their support, saying, “There was a lot of rain during the game today, and the support of the away fans who stayed until the end was the driving force behind this victory.”
SSG will look for the winning series on the 27th with ace Kim Kwang-hyun as the starting pitcher for Samsung. Underhanded Kim Dae-woo will start for Samsung.