By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Lotte Giants right-hander Song Seung-jun failed in his bid to become the first pitcher in KBO history to toss four consecutive shutout victories.
Song finally allowed a run in the third inning in a game against the Hanwha Eagles, ending hopes of him setting the mark. The Giants eventually won 7-6 on a walk-off by Hong Sung-heon.
His string of scoreless innings, which ended at 32, began on June 28 against the same team. In the next game, the 30-year-old saw off the league-leading Wyverns.
Legendary Korean pitcher Sun Dong-yeol, now the manager of the Samsung Lions, is the KBO's all-time leader in shutouts with 29. Sun also shares the record for most shutouts in a season with eight in 1986. Kim Sang-jin, then a pitcher with the OB Bears ― previously the Doosan Bears ― shares the mark.
It was the fifth straight win for the Giants.
The Eagles' Yeon Kyung-heom produced the 20,000th homer in KBO history in the eighth inning, a milestone overshadowed by his team's defeat.