SSG Landers edge Lotte Giants 8-4 in heat-break return

SSG Landers defeated Lotte Giants 8-4 on 11 August in Incheon, extending their winning streak to two games and moving to a 0.500 record (40 wins, 4 draws, 60 losses) in the 2026 KBO League season. The victory came on the league's first day back after a week-long heat suspension.

The Korean Baseball Organization had cancelled 15 games across five stadiums from 7 to 9 August due to extreme heat. When play resumed, the league delayed start times by 30 minutes on weekdays and one hour on weekends to mitigate conditions forecast at 35 degrees Celsius.

SSG's bats showed no signs of rust. Kim Jae-hwan contributed a three-run homer and two hits across four at-bats for four runs batted in. Jeon Ui-san added two hits and two RBIs, while Cho Hyung-woo went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. The lineup produced 10 hits total, dismantling Lotte starter Jeremy Beasley, who allowed seven runs over five innings and fell to 5-8 on the season.

SSG starter Pedro Avila pitched efficiently, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings to claim his third win. Manager Lee Sung-yong credited the players for their preparation during the unexpected break. "Because our players prepared well during the unforeseen heat shutdown, we were able to secure the victory," he said after the match. He singled out Avila's "ace-calibre performance" and praised the batting lineup for converting early scoring opportunities, particularly consecutive hits from Cho and An Sang-hyun in the sixth inning that proved decisive.