INCHEON, South Korea (Interstat) — The Shinsegae Landers, powered by a dominant start from Choi Min-jun and a relentless offensive attack, overwhelmed the Kiwoom Heroes 11-1 on Thursday evening at a damp Munhak Baseball Stadium.

A crowd of 11,314 watched as the Landers (4-1) quickly erased an early deficit and never looked back, handing the struggling Heroes (1-4) their third consecutive defeat. The game’s outcome defied the pregame betting line, which had installed Kiwoom as a 1.5-run favorite, though the combined 12 runs fell just short of the over/under line of 11.0.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the first inning and set the tone for the lopsided affair. After Kiwoom starter Jung Hyun-woo navigated a leadoff walk to Park Seong-han and a foul out, veteran third baseman Choi Jeong stepped in. On a 1-1 offering, Choi connected and sent a towering drive over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, instantly transforming a tentative 0-0 tie into a 2-0 Shinsegae lead. That swing provided all the support Choi Min-jun would ultimately need and decisively shifted momentum to the home side for the remainder of the night.

Choi Min-jun, named the top star of the game, was brilliant in his five innings of work. He surrendered only one hit—a single to Park Chan-hyeok in the second—while walking two and striking out five. He faced minimal threat, with the Heroes failing to advance a runner past second base against him. His performance lowered his ERA to a pristine 0.00 and earned him his first win of the young season.

Conversely, Jung Hyun-woo of the Heroes labored through five innings, tagged for six earned runs on five hits and three walks. The damage began with Choi Jeong’s first-inning blast and continued in the third. After a walk to Lee Ji-young, Park Seong-han ripped a double to center field, scoring one run. Later in the inning, with two runners in scoring position, first baseman Ko Myeong-jun delivered a sharp single to left field, plating both Choi Jeong and Park Seong-han to extend the Landers’ lead to 4-0.

The Shinsegae offense, which amassed 12 hits, showcased its depth beyond the early fireworks. Park Seong-han was a catalyst all night, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Guillermo Heredia drove in three runs, including a two-run single as part of a four-run sixth inning that broke the game open. In that frame, Park Seong-han added an RBI infield single before Heredia’s key hit made it 8-0.

Kiwoom finally broke through in the top of the ninth against reliever Han Doo-sol, scratching out a run on four hits to avoid the shutout. Their offense, however, was largely stifled, managing just seven hits total and going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They also grounded into two double plays.

The Landers put an exclamation point on the victory in the bottom of the eighth when center fielder Choi Ji-hoon launched a two-run homer to left field, scoring An Sang-hyun and providing the final 11-1 margin.

Following Choi Min-jun’s exit, the Shinsegae bullpen quartet of Jeon Young-jun, Baek Seung-geon, Han Doo-sol and Jeong Jun-jae combined to allow one run over the final four innings, preserving the comfortable win.

The victory gives Shinsegae a series win after splitting the first two games of this set, having lost 11-2 on Wednesday before winning 9-3 on Tuesday. The Landers will now head to Busan for a three-game weekend series against the Lotte Giants beginning Friday. The reeling Heroes, who have lost four of their first five, return home to Seoul to host the LG Twins for a three-game series starting Friday.