Samsung '22 hits and 21 points' Nuclear Explosion Show! 'Kang Min-ho → Lee Sung-kyu → Kim Young-woong → Cadenas' Relay Home Run + Ryu Ji-hyuk Five-RBI Lotte by 17 points

Jul 20, 2024

Photo provided by Samsung Lions

In the morning, the sky in Daegu, where heavy rain had fallen, became blue. It was to show off the Samsung Lions' all-time firepower show.

In Game 2 of the weekend series against the Lotte Giants at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 20th, the Samsung Lions won a 21-4 victory by showing off their nuclear explosive firepower that drove 17 hits and 17 runs, including four home runs.

Samsung, which literally devastated the Lotte mound, won its 49th victory (43 losses and 2 draws), trailing the second-place LG Twins by one game. It gave the best gift on Saturday evening to the home fans who filled the 24,000 seats. Lee Sung-kyu hit home runs in three consecutive games and Kang Min-ho hit home runs in two consecutive games, and Kang Min-ho also enjoyed double-digit home runs (the fifth in KBO League history) for 15 consecutive seasons.

On this day, Samsung played as Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second base), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Cadenas (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Kim Young-woong (third base), Lee Sung-kyu (first base), Kim Hyun-joon (right fielder) and Ahn Ju-hyung (striker). Won Tae-in came out as the starter 'Blue Pepper Ace'.

Lotte played in the lineup of Yoon Dong-hee (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second base), Jeon Joon-woo (left fielder), Reyes (right fielder), Na Seung-yeop (first base), Choi Hang (third base), Son Ho-young (designated hitter), Park Seung-wook (striker), and Information-geun (catcher). Lee In-bok came out as the starter.

Photo provided by Samsung Lions

Lotte hit first. In the top of the first inning, Yoon Dong-hee's hit, Won Tae-in's check error, and Reyes' walk were combined to get a chance with two outs and runners on first and second bases. Here, Na Seung-yeop scored a three-run shot over the right fence to take a 3-0 lead.

Samsung immediately got on base in the bottom of the first inning with Kim Ji-chan's error-prone double by Lotte left fielder Jeon Jun-woo, and followed one run with Koo Ja-wook's sacrifice fly in the third base with one out.

Samsung, which exchanged peaceful second innings, exploded in the bottom of the third inning. Ryu Ji-hyuk's tiebreaking two-run double followed by consecutive walks by Ahn Joon-hyung and Kim Ji-chan after one out.

Koo Ja-wook was worried because he was replaced with a ball that hit his body, but Kang Min-ho's come-from-behind three-run shot broke out in the second and second bases with two outs. It was a 135m shot with a great distance over the left fence, which kicked up the low course on the body.

Lotte followed 4-6 when Son Ho-young, who returned in the top of the fourth inning, got on base and called in Yoon Dong-hee's RBI double. That's all Lotte's momentum has come to an end.

Following five points in the third inning, Samsung added three points in the fourth inning and four points each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Photo provided by Samsung Lions

Leadoff hitter Lee Sung-kyu reversed the mood again with a home run in his first three consecutive games. Lotte lowered its starter Lee In-bok and raised its second pitcher Park Jin, but it melted into Samsung's concentrated firepower.

Kim Ji-chan's timely hit following Kim Hyun-jun's double made 8-4. Here, Kim Ji-chan homered the second base and dug home during the opponent's wild pitch, shaking Lotte's battery.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Kang Min-ho got on base with a double. Lotte catcher Cho In-geun missed Kim Young-woong's foul fly. In the end, Lotte's third pitcher Jin Hae-soo allowed a walk to Kim Ji-chan and a two-run timely hit to Ryu Ji-hyuk with the bases loaded with two outs made by Kim Young-woong's hit and Kim Hyun-joon's hit. In the ensuing situation of the opponent's intimidation, Lotte's infield's incomprehensible judgment and Hwang Sung-bin's throw to third base missed, reaching 13-4.

Samsung hit its first home run in the bottom of the sixth inning when a new foreign player, Cardenas, fired his first home run, followed by Kang Min-ho's heavy hit and Kim Young-woong's two-run shot in the left-center, marking the peak of the firepower show. He added one more point with Anju-hyung's double play on the first and third bases with no outs.

Photo provided by Samsung Lions

Lotte gave key players, including Jeon Joon-woo, a break early on, and launched defenders such as catcher Junghoon Lee, second base Jeong Hoon, shortstop Roh Jin-hyuk, and right fielder Jang Doo-sung. The Junghoon Lee fell to left field on the way, and Son Sung-bin was put in. While the pitching staff also gave up 17 points, Lee In-bok, Park Jin, and Jin Hae-soo held out with three players.

It wasn't the end. Samsung had a chance with two outs and runners on the first and second bases with a hit by Kim Hyun-joon and Ahn Ju-hyung against Lotte's Lee Min-seok in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a timely hit for the 4th hit-5th RBI.

Then, when Yoon Jung-bin made a timely hit to the right, Lotte right fielder Jang Doo-sung left it behind, and two runners homered and scored 20 points. Cardenas' timely hit then scored the 21st point.

lunarfly@sportschosun.com