If Hong Min-ki were there, it would have been disappointing in the eighth episode. Lotte is in danger of being third place by 0.5G difference against KIA after 23 come-from-behind loss
Jul 20, 2025
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Lotte scored the first run in the top of the first inning in an away game against the LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium on the 20th, but eventually suffered a 2-3 upset loss. Lotte, which was overturned 1-2 in the bottom of the first inning, allowed a 1-1 tie immediately, and made a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning, but Choi Joon-yong and Jung Cheol-won of Pilseung Group finally gave up one point in the bottom of the eighth inning and lost.
Lotte, which started with fastball prospect Lee Min-seok, consisted of Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Han Tae-yang (second baseman), Reyes (left fielder), Jeon Joon-woo (center fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Kim Min-sung (third baseman), and Jeon Min-jae (striker).
Lotte, which easily scored the first run with back-to-back doubles by Han Tae-yang and Reyes in the top of the first inning, failed to score additional points after being tagged out by LG right fielder Moon Sung-joo's throw, although Reyes dug home when No. 5 Yun Dong-hee hit to the right with two outs.
Lotte, which allowed a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the first inning due to Moon Sung-joo's solo shot to the left, got a chance to get a runner-up with one out in the top of the third inning due to Hwang Sung-bin's infield hit and an opponent's check error, but failed to score due to a failed follow-up hit.
In the bottom of the third inning, starter Lee Min-seok showed poor control and was on the verge of loading the bases with two outs with three walks. Fortunately, Moon Bo-kyung was dealt with as a ground ball in front of the first base to escape the crisis of reversal.
Immediately in the top of the fourth inning, Yoon Dong-hee's hit and Na Seung-yeop's groundout in front of the second base created a chance for two outs and runners on first and second base due to the opponent's second baseman Shin Min-jae's error, and Lotte, which led to the bases loaded with Kim Min-sung's walk, failed to break the 1-1 balance as Jeon Min-jae's hit was caught by the left fielder.
'At the end of the fifth inning, he finally allowed a turnaround. After two outs, Shin Min-jae's double to the right field line and Moon Sung-joo had an infield hit to the second baseman, giving up one run.
However, Jeon Joon-woo and Yoon Dong-hee's consecutive hits in the top of the sixth inning created a chance for first and second bases with no outs, and Kim Min-sung's heavy hit with two outs and runners on first and third succeeded in tying the game 2-2. Jeon Min-jae drew a straight walk and loaded the bases with two outs.
He even succeeded in lowering the opponent's starter Lim Chan-kyu, who was playing well.
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After that, Lotte's batters were completely blocked by Kim Jin-sung in the seventh inning, Lee Jung-yong in the eighth inning, and Yoo Young-chan in the ninth inning.
Starting Lee Min-seok took the mound in the seventh inning beyond the sixth inning. After catching the lead Chun Sung-ho with a fly to center field, Choi Won-young got on base with a hit ball and replaced him with Choi Jun-yong. In six ⅓ innings, he recorded a quality start with four hits (one home run), three walks, one strikeout, and two runs.
After Choi Jun-yong blocked the seventh inning, he also went up in the bottom of the eighth inning, which was when the problem occurred. He got a double off the right-field line by the first-runner Moon Sung-joo.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung immediately raised Jung Chul-won, but LG put Koo Bon-hyuk as a pinch hitter at the batter's box of Kim Hyun-soo to make a sacrifice bunt. He made an exquisite success toward the third base line, one out and third base. And Moon Bo-kyung hit Jung Cheol-won's 149km fastball, which became a double on the left-field line, making it a disappointing run.
It was a moment of great regret that Hong Min-ki, who blocked LG's left-handed batters well on the 18th and 19th, could not take the mound on the day. Hong Min-ki pitched 15 innings on the 18th, allowing no hits, two strikeouts and no runs, and on the 19th, he allowed one hit and two strikeouts in the first ⅓ innings with 25 pitches. Since he played two consecutive days, he rested on the 20th and blocked LG's left-handed batters with right-handed must-win groups such as Choi Joon-yong and Jung Cheol-won, but eventually lost a point.
With the defeat, Lotte won 48 games, 3 draws and 41 losses, and LG won 50 games, 2 draws and 39 losses, keeping second place, two games ahead of Lotte. Lotte will be chased by the fourth-ranked KIA Tigers (46 wins, 3 draws and 40 losses) by 0.5 games.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
