At Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on April 23, 2026, the Lotte Giants finally found the spark they desperately needed, snapping a five-game losing streak with a resounding 6-1 victory over the Doosan Bears in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. The home crowd roared with relief and excitement as Lotte, once mired at the bottom of the standings, clawed their way out of last place, pushing the Kiwoom Heroes below them and halting Doosan’s four-game winning run in the process.
The game’s early moments had Lotte fans holding their breath. In the top of the second inning, Doosan’s Daz Cameron launched a solo home run that gave the visiting Bears a 1-0 lead. It looked, for a moment, like Lotte’s troubles might continue. But the Giants had other ideas. In the bottom half, with two outs and no one on, Son Ho-young reached base on a wild pitch after a strikeout—a rare and lucky break that shifted the momentum. Son Sung-bin then ripped a double to bring Son Ho-young home, tying the game. The crowd barely had time to settle before Jeon Min-jae stepped up and drilled a double to left, allowing Son Sung-bin to score and giving Lotte a 2-1 lead.
Jeon Min-jae’s bat was on fire all night. He finished the game with two hits in four at-bats, driving in two runs, including the crucial go-ahead RBI. His timely hitting was no fluke—Jeon has been working overtime, staying after games to practice his swing alone. “I didn’t prepare anything special, just tried to do what I always do,” Jeon shared in a postgame interview. “Practicing alone after games definitely helps and gives me confidence.” That hard work was on full display as he helped power Lotte’s offense out of its recent slump.
The Giants weren’t done. In the fourth inning, they poured it on. Yu Kang-nam singled, followed by a double from Shin Yun-ho, setting up runners at second and third with just one out. Jeon Min-jae delivered again, singling to left to bring home Shin Yun-ho. Then, Han Tae-yang grounded out, but not before Shin Yun-ho dashed home for another run. Victor Reyes capped the rally with a sharp single between third and short, driving in yet another run. By the end of the inning, Lotte led 5-1, and the mood in Sajik Stadium had shifted from anxious to electric.
On the mound, Lotte’s foreign ace Elvin Rodriguez was nothing short of dominant. He threw 111 pitches over six innings, allowing just six hits (one a solo homer), one walk, and fanning eight batters while surrendering only a single run. It was his second quality start of the season and improved his record to 3-1. Rodriguez’s steady presence was exactly what the Giants needed to steady the ship. “Rodriguez effectively shut down Doosan’s lineup and gave us the stability we needed,” said a team official.
The bullpen, often a source of concern for Lotte this season, held strong. Hyun Do-hoon came out for the seventh and delivered a perfect inning, marking his third consecutive scoreless appearance since being called up on April 14. His journey to this moment has been anything but smooth. After stints in Japan and independent leagues, and a rollercoaster ride through the minors, Hyun was given a new opportunity by Lotte and has seized it. “I try to throw like a machine, blocking out all emotions,” Hyun told reporters. “In the past, nerves would get the best of me in the first team, but now I just focus on pitching simply and calmly.”
Hyun’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time for Lotte. While the starting rotation boasts the league’s best ERA at 3.36, the bullpen has struggled, ranking ninth with a 6.63 ERA. New closer Choi Jun-yong has been a bright spot, posting a 1.00 ERA in nine games, but finding reliable arms for the middle innings has been a challenge. Hyun’s ability to pitch multiple innings and maintain composure under pressure gives the Giants a valuable weapon as the season progresses.
Relievers Park Jung-min and Choi Jun-yong followed Hyun, each throwing a scoreless inning to slam the door on Doosan’s hopes of a late rally. The Bears managed eight hits on the night but couldn’t muster the clutch hitting needed to capitalize, a frustration that ended their winning streak and left them searching for answers.
Doosan’s starting pitcher Jack Log had a rough outing, lasting only four innings while giving up nine hits and five runs. Wild pitches and a lack of command allowed Lotte’s hitters to pounce and build their lead. The Bears’ offense, so potent during their winning streak, was held in check by Rodriguez and the Lotte bullpen, managing just one run despite several opportunities.
Victor Reyes contributed two hits and an RBI, providing depth to a Lotte lineup that finally showed signs of life after a prolonged slump. The Giants racked up a total of 12 hits, a welcome change for a club that has struggled to produce runs in recent weeks. The offensive outburst, combined with strong pitching, offered a blueprint for success that Lotte will hope to replicate as the season continues.
This victory was about more than just halting a losing streak. For Lotte, it was a statement that they’re not ready to be written off. The Giants now head to Gwangju for a weekend series against the KIA Tigers with renewed confidence and a chance to climb further up the standings. The pressure is off, at least for now, and the players are embracing the challenge ahead.
Elsewhere in the league, the night was filled with drama. SSG Landers staged a stunning ninth-inning rally to beat the Samsung Lions 8-2, moving up to third place, while Hanwha Eagles blasted three home runs to topple the LG Twins 8-4. But in Busan, the story belonged to the Lotte Giants—a team that, for one night, found its rhythm and reminded fans why baseball is a game of hope and resilience.
With the losing streak finally in the rearview mirror, Lotte’s focus shifts to building on this momentum. If Rodriguez, Jeon Min-jae, and the revitalized bullpen can keep performing at this level, the Giants just might turn their season around.