ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse

Sep 21, 2025

ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse
The game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th, and Lotte Gamboa, with one out and runners on the second and third bases, are regretful after giving up a two-run timely hit after Kiwoom Song Ji-hoo in the top of the fourth inning. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/



ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse
A game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th, and Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung staring at the ground before the game. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/
The young ace who predicted autumn baseball is nowhere to be seen. Rather than being a support, it is collapsing together at an important juncture in the fight for the semifinals.

The Lotte Giants suffered a crushing defeat of 5-15 against the Kiwoom Heroes in Busan on the 20th. It has been only a day since he announced Captain Jeon Jun-woo's return by hitting the NC Dinos 18-2 earlier.

Kiwoom starter Park Jung-hoon didn't last even in the first inning. At the start of the game, he collapsed with six four outs. Starting with giving up a hit ball against Lotte's leadoff hitter Hwang Sung-bin, he allowed a stolen base, walked Han Tae-yang again, and drew a double play to Yoon Dong-hee, but gave Reyes the first run with another walk and a foil. Jeon Jun-woo, Kim Min-sung, and Son Ho-young again allowed three consecutive walks and scored the second point. In particular, the last seven balls were all balls.




Kiwoom urgently put Park Joo-sung in to put out the fire, and Lotte's lineup, which failed to secure a clear wedge in the face of the opponent's self-destruction, cooled down. Kiwoom turned the game around by tapping Lotte starter Gamboa with nine hits and eight runs (seven earned runs) in three ⅓ innings.

ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse
Kiwoom starter Park Jung-hoon is pitching hard in a game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/
In particular, the problem is that the poor performance of the first starter Gamboa is not something that happened yesterday or today. Gamboa, who wore a Lotte uniform in place of Barnes, a foreign player in his fourth year, played a central role in the team's rise by winning six consecutive starts with a maximum 158km fastball immediately after the replacement. In particular, it was impressive that he recorded quality starts (more than six innings and less than three earned runs) in seven of the first nine games, including his debut.

However, he has been sluggish in the second half with 1-6 losses and 4.18 ERA, failing to save a team in crisis.




In particular, Gamboa's shaking is predicted. In the end, concerns over durability have become a reality.

Gamboa never made the big league stage during her seven years on the U.S. stage. He is not a player who only focused on starting positions. As a result, even the most innings in his career was only 88 ⅓ (2022).

When he moved to Korea, he had already pitched 19 ⅓ innings in the U.S. And the slump has accelerated since exceeding 90 and 100 innings this season.




ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse
The game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th, and Lotte Gamboa gave up an RBI double to Kiwoom Eo Jun-seo with one out and runners on the first and second bases in the top of the fourth inning. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/
Gamboa broke the most innings in her life against the Hanwha Eagles on August 12 (two runs in six innings, a loss). In the next six games, Gamboa has been in a terrible slump with three losses and a 6.07 ERA without a win.

In particular, he allowed eight runs (three earned) in four innings amid a flurry of defensive errors against Hanwha on the 10th, and then skipped the rotation once due to elbow discomfort. The Lotte team considered the ace's condition even in the midst of breathless ranking competition.

And it collapsed again against Kiwoom, which took the mound in 10 days. In the meantime, Gamboa has insisted that "the lack of innings was only because he was a bullpen pitcher, but he has enough power because he is well managed.' However, he has rarely overcome the biggest overload of his life.

ERA 6.07 without a win since that day...Blessing → Ace who became a burden, what the hell happened? foretold collapse
The game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th, Lotte Velazquez on the first and second bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, allowing an RBI double to Kiwoom Song Ji-hoo. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/
Lotte is suffering from a slump in which not only Gamboa but also another foreign Velazquez penetrates the basement beyond the floor. It has been sluggish even after the bullpen was demoted. He also took the mound in the sixth inning, trailing 2-11, tied three hits and one walk in one inning, allowing three runs, making manager Kim Tae-hyung sigh.

The poor performance of the foreign duo has put Lotte, once ranked third, on the verge of not even being able to step on autumn baseball after experiencing 12 consecutive losses and five consecutive losses.

Lotte ranks sixth with a four-game difference from the third-place SSG Landers and one-game difference from the fifth-place KT Wiz. There are only seven games left.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.