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SSG Landers fall into 9-game losing streak amid 'Starbucks Tank Day' controversy

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • SSG Landers lost 3-13 to Samsung Lions, extending their losing streak to nine games.
  • The team's performance has sharply declined since a controversy involving Starbucks, a subsidiary of their parent company Shinsegae Group.
  • SSG Landers is struggling with foreign pitcher underperformance and bullpen fatigue, urgently needing to rebuild its pitching staff.

The SSG Landers baseball team is mired in a losing streak, falling 3-13 to the Samsung Lions on July 5. This defeat marks their ninth consecutive loss, adding to an earlier club-record 13-game losing streak from May 17 to June 2. Coincidentally, the team's performance has nosedived around the time of the "Tank Day controversy" at Starbucks, a subsidiary of their parent company, Shinsegae Group.

SSG Landers lost 3-13 to Samsung Lions, extending their losing streak to nine games.

Summary of the game's outcome.

Before May 18, SSG Landers held a respectable 22-19-1 record (0.537 winning percentage) and sat in fourth place. However, in the 41 games played since then, they have plummeted to an 8-31-2 record (0.205 winning percentage), dropping to ninth place in the league. The team has been plagued by the underperformance of its foreign pitchers and an overloaded bullpen, leading to consistently difficult games.

Coincidentally, the team's performance has nosedived around the time of the "Tank Day controversy" at Starbucks, a subsidiary of their parent company, Shinsegae Group.

Connecting the team's slump to a corporate controversy.

Despite plans to replace both foreign pitchers in the second half of the season, the immediate priority is rebuilding the bullpen. In the game against the Lions, SSG starter Kim Geon-woo lasted only four innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks, marking his fifth consecutive loss. The team hopes to break the losing streak in their upcoming three-game series against Doosan Bears.

The team has been plagued by the underperformance of its foreign pitchers and an overloaded bullpen, leading to consistently difficult games.

Explaining the reasons behind the team's struggles.

Meanwhile, Samsung's Kang Min-ho hit two home runs, securing the win for his team. Samsung's starting pitcher Yang Chang-seop earned his seventh win of the season, remaining undefeated. The Lions are on a four-game winning streak and will face league leaders LG Twins in a crucial three-game series that could determine the top spot.

Despite plans to replace both foreign pitchers in the second half of the season, the immediate priority is rebuilding the bullpen.

Highlighting the team's strategy and urgent needs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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