The SSG Landers pulled off a dramatic walk-off comeback victory against the KIA Tigers in the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League opening game on March 28. SSG won 7-6 at their home ground, SSG Landers Field in Incheon.
SSG struggled through the middle innings. Starting pitcher Mitch White gave up five runs over four innings, while the lineup was shut out through six innings by KIA starter James Naile. In the top of the first with one out and runners on second and third, White surrendered an RBI single to right field to Na Sung-bum, giving up one run. Kim Sun-bin then hit a grounder that brought home another runner, making it 2-0.
Already trailing by two, SSG conceded another run in the top of the third when White allowed another RBI single to right field to Kim Sun-bin with one out and runners on first and second. In the top of the fifth, leadoff hitter Harold Castro and Kim Do-young hit back-to-back singles, and Na Sung-bum walked on four straight balls to load the bases. With no outs and bases loaded, Kim Sun-bin laced a two-RBI single past the second baseman, stretching the deficit to 5-0.
The comeback began in the bottom of the seventh against left-handed reliever Kim Beom-su. Leadoff batter Kim Jae-hwan drew a walk, followed by consecutive singles from Ko Myeong-jun and Choi Ji-hoon. With no outs and bases loaded, Cho Hyeong-woo's grounder brought in one run. With one out and runners on first and third, a passed ball by KIA catcher Kim Tae-gun allowed the runner on third to score. With two outs and a runner on second, Oh Tae-gon singled to left field to add another run, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
KIA scored one more in the top of the ninth, but SSG completed its comeback in the bottom of the ninth, trailing 3-6. With one out and runners on second and third, Oh Tae-gon delivered a clutch two-RBI single to center field. After Park Seong-han drew a walk, Guillermo Heredia singled to left field to bring in another run. With one out and bases loaded, the runner on third scored to seal the 7-6 walk-off victory.
After the game, SSG Landers captain Oh Tae-gon said thorough scouting led the team to victory. "We saw Kim Beom-su and Seong Yeong-tak warming up in their bullpen, so we went in having analyzed pitcher Seong Yeong-tak, and it paid off perfectly," Oh told reporters. Oh unexpectedly took on the captaincy this season after SSG's left-handed ace Kim Kwang-hyun underwent shoulder surgery and entered rehabilitation. "Before his surgery, I called Kim Kwang-hyun and told him, 'I'll hold down the captaincy until you come back.' I hope the team does well while I'm captain," he added.
Meanwhile, all 23,000 tickets for the KIA Tigers-SSG Landers game at Incheon SSG Landers Field sold out at 10 a.m., the earliest sellout of the day. Tickets also sold out at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon for Kiwoom Heroes vs. Hanwha Eagles, Jamsil Stadium for kt wiz vs. LG Twins, Samsung Lions Park in Daegu for Lotte Giants vs. Samsung Lions, and Changwon NC Park for Doosan Bears vs. NC Dinos. As a result, the KBO League achieved sellouts at all stadiums on opening day for the fourth consecutive year.