Seoul: The Kiwoom Heroes celebrated a remarkable victory as they clinched their season-high fourth consecutive win by sweeping the SSG Landers, 6-0, at the Gocheok Sky Dome. This triumph was largely due to the standout performances of catcher Kim Gun-hee and pitcher Raul Alcantara.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Gun-hee delivered a spectacular performance by hitting his first career grand slam, which provided ample support for Raul Alcantara's exceptional pitching. Alcantara dominated the mound, throwing eight shutout innings, while Kim's grand slam in the third inning was the decisive blow that secured the Heroes' win. With this victory, the Heroes not only completed a three-game sweep of the Landers but also extended their winning streak to a season-best four games.
The win improved the Heroes' record to 19-26-1, allowing them to climb out of last place in the standings. Meanwhile, the NC Dinos dropped to the bottom after suffering a 1-0 loss to the Doosan Bears, leaving their record at 18-25-1. The SSG Landers, now on a four-game losing streak, fell to 22-22-1.
Kim's grand slam came after the Heroes missed early scoring opportunities against Landers' starter Ginjiro Hiramoto. In the third inning, Kim took advantage of a slider that caught the middle of the plate, sending it 130 meters to center field. This hit set the tone for the rest of the game, providing Alcantara with more than enough run support.
Alcantara, who was perfect through 4 1/3 innings, continued to dominate by allowing only minimal hits and navigating through potential threats with ease. In the seventh inning, the Heroes extended their lead with RBI singles from An Chi-hong and Lee Hyung-jong, solidifying their 6-0 advantage.
Despite nearing 100 pitches, Alcantara completed the eighth inning before handing over to reliever Kim Jae-ung, who closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning. Alcantara's effective mix of fastballs, forkballs, and sliders left the Landers' hitters struggling, as he struck out eight batters in total.
Pitching with his family in attendance, Alcantara expressed the motivation and focus their presence provided. He noted his satisfaction with the team's performance and his own ability to contribute significantly to the win, despite not feeling his best at the start of the day.