▲ On the 1st at the Incheon game against SSG, Son Seong-bin drove in two runs with a single immediately after Yoon Dong-hee was intentionally walked. ⓒ Lotte Giants
[SPOTV News=Incheon, Reporter Kim Tae-woo] Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung rolled out an unconventional lineup for the May 1 game against SSG, putting Noh Jin-hyuk in the cleanup spot. Since his pro debut, Noh had started in every position in the order except fourth—this was his first time batting there.
Was there a specific reason for the switch? Kim said no. He explained he pushed his hottest hitters up the lineup to give them an extra plate appearance. That produced the order: hot streak hitters Jang Du-seong and Park Seung-wook at one and two, Reyes at three, and Noh at cleanup.
The move also underscored Lotte’s offensive struggles this season. With the lineup largely cold, the club had to concentrate its chances. From No. 5 Jeon Jun-woo through No. 9 Jeon Min-jae, no player had an OPS of 0.750 or higher this year.
But the bottom of the order came through. At Incheon’s SSG Landers Field on the 1st, Lotte beat SSG 10-7 after a 10-inning battle. Before that game, Lotte’s season high for runs in a game was six. The win marked their first double-digit scoring game of the season and set a new single-game high.
▲ Jeon Min-jae's two-RBI go-ahead single in the sixth inning. ⓒ Lotte Giants
When the game was tied 6-6 in the 10th, Jang Du-seong, Park Seung-wook and Reyes delivered consecutive RBI hits for four runs—exactly the kind of late-game production Lotte’s bench hoped for. But the big sixth inning that pushed the game to extras came from the lower order. Those six runs didn’t instantly seal the win, but they offered a clear sign the offense might be waking up.
Through five innings Lotte hadn’t solved starter Takeda Shota and trailed 0-3. In the sixth, Reyes opened with a double to right-center. Takeda then exited abruptly with a thigh cramp, and Noh Jin-hyuk followed with a single to left, putting runners at the corners with one out.
Jeon Jun-woo grounded into a pitcher’s play for the second out, but with two outs and runners on second and third, SSG intentionally walked Yoon Dong-hee. Yoon’s numbers this season had been poor, and his lifetime average against Lee Ro-woon was just 0.182. Still, he’s a fundamentally sound hitter who has homered off Lee before. SSG preferred to face the hitters after Yoon—Son Seong-bin was next.
▲ Lotte posted their first double-digit scoring game of the season thanks to balanced contributions from the top and bottom of the order. ⓒ Lotte Giants
That decision backfired. Lotte’s lower order erupted, pouring in six runs in the sixth to flip the game. Son Seong-bin—whom SSG elected to face instead of Yoon—lashed a two-RBI single to left and swung momentum Lotte’s way. Lee Ho-jun battled and drew a walk to keep the rally alive, and with the bases loaded Jeon Min-jae followed with another two-RBI single as four lower-order hitters reached in succession.
Lotte added an RBI single from Jang Du-seong and benefited from a throwing error on SSG’s relay during Park Seung-wook’s at-bat, finishing the frame with six runs. Given Lotte’s season-high for a game had been six, scoring that many in a single inning was notable.
After the extra-inning slugfest, Lotte finished with 12 hits and six walks. Jang Du-seong extended a hot stretch with three hits and two RBIs; Park Seung-wook had two hits and two RBIs; Reyes had two hits and one RBI. Son Seong-bin, who replaced Yoo Kang-nam in the middle innings, finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Jeon Min-jae added two RBIs. The question now is whether Lotte can build on this momentum and get an extra boost when Na Seung-yeop and Go Seung-min return.
▲ Lotte found a foothold for a rebound as they climbed out of the cellar. ⓒ Lotte Giants
