SSG Landers closer Seo Jin-ryong’s ironclad defense finally crumbled after collecting 34 saves during the regular season.In the meantime, SSG showed its ability to win in overtime.SSG won a hard-fought 8-5 victory over visiting Doosan in the Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League 2023 on Sunday at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.After losing to Doosan on the first day of the three-game series, SSG won the next two games to clinch the sweep (at least two wins out of three) and remain in sole possession of third place.Taking a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning on Choi Jung-jeong’s 23rd home run of the season, SSG brought up Seo Jin-yong in the ninth to protect the win.However, Seo gave up back-to-back singles to Jung Soo-bin and Kim Jae-ho to put runners on first and third with one out before giving up a sacrifice fly to Jose Rojas to tie the game at 5-5.It was Seo’s first blown save of the season.After a scoreless ninth inning, SSG regained the lead in the 10th on Jeon Eui-san’s game-winning RBI single two batters later.With runners on second and third, Kim Sung-hyun followed with an RBI double to seal the win.SSG Ha Jae-hoon activated the home run machine for the second straight day for the first time since his KBO debut.After hitting his first career two-run home run against Doosan the previous day, Ha hit Alcantara’s 155-kilometer-per-hour fastball over the fence with two outs in the top of the fourth inning with the score tied at 2-2.It was his fifth home run of the season, measured at 130 meters, and it was the second straight game he hit a home run in his debut.The home run in the eighth inning, which tied the game at 4-4, cut the gap between Choi, who is second in the league in home runs, and Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles), who leads the league with 29, to six.Choi also became the eighth player in KBO history to reach 200 RBI in eight consecutive seasons.Doosan managed to shut down SSG closer Seo Jin-yong, but ran out of steam at the end and took a knee.Ace Raul Alcantara, who lasted seven innings and gave up four runs (two earned) on 109 pitches with three walks and nine strikeouts, also took the 스포츠토토 loss.
