'And Big Win' Samsung-KT-LG 'Top Three Structure' → Will KIA Break It? 'Win-Win-Loss-Win-Win' — How They Turned It Around in the Bottom of the 8th... Jo Sang-woo escapes a bases-loaded, two-out crisis

*This content was translated by AI.

The KIA Tigers displayed fierce late-game stamina to secure a thrilling comeback victory over the SSG Landers. This upward trend now positions them to contend for the top spot.

On the 23rd, at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, in a regular-season home game against SSG in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, KIA trailed 2-4 but scored three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to win 5-4 by a single run.

With back-to-back wins in the three-game weekend series, KIA has already secured a winning streak. On the 24th, KIA will start Adam Oller, while SSG will start Takeda as they both aim for victory.

With this win, KIA improved their season record to 24 wins, 1 tie, and 22 losses, maintaining sole possession of fourth place. This also provides a foothold to join the tight race at the top, which had seemed firmly locked into a 'Top Three' structure featuring the Samsung Lions, KT Wiz, and LG Twins. The gap between KIA and first-place Samsung is 3.5 games. KIA's recent 10-game record is 7 wins and 3 losses, tied for first place with the Kiwoom Heroes (7 wins, 3 losses). In their last five games, KIA has posted a 'Win-Win-Loss-Win-Win' record.

Meanwhile, SSG has fallen into a six-game losing streak. Suffering their 24th loss of the season (22 wins, 1 tie), they are now tied for fifth place alongside the Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears.

The game's momentum was consistently dominated by SSG. In the top of the 2nd inning, SSG seized the initiative with a powerful hit. With one out, a Kim Jae-hwan hit and a stolen base created a two-out, second-base opportunity. Chae Hyun-woo targeted the fifth pitch, a slider inside, from KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong, hitting his second career home run and first of the season for a two-run lead.

Momentum carried SSG to another run in the top of the 5th inning. With leadoff hitter An Sang-hyun and a one-out, first-and-third situation created by Lee Ji-young's hit, Choi Ji-hoon smashed a sharp two-run double that struck the right-field fence. At that moment, KIA right fielder Na Sung-beom fumbled the ball once, and during that time, first baseman Lee Ji-young boldly circled third base and scored, extending the lead to 4-0. Na Sung-beom's fielding error was also part of the play.

However, KIA did not yield easily. In the bottom of the 5th, they scored without a hit, capitalizing on opponent errors. After Park Min reached on a walk with one out, Park Jae-hyun struck out while attempting a stolen base at second. SSG catcher Lee Ji-young committed an error on the throw to second, allowing the ball to roll into the outfield. Park Min advanced to third. SSG center fielder Choi Ji-hoon threw to third, but it was a bad throw. Park Min then scored. This was the moment SSG's fatal consecutive errors turned into runs.

KIA also chipped away in the bottom of the 7th, taking advantage of opponent errors. With SSG switching pitchers from Moon Seung-won to Kim Min, Park Jung-woo and Park Jae-hyun recorded consecutive hits. Next, Kim Ho-ryeong hit a ground ball to first base, followed by a throw to home plate attempting to tag out runner Park Jung-woo at third. During the rundown, the fielder dropped the ball while tagging Park Jung-woo, allowing Park Jae-hyun to score. At that moment, SSG manager Lee Sung-yong vigorously protested that Park Jung-woo had stepped off the three-foot line, but the call was not overturned.

Then came the bottom of the 8th. KIA ultimately turned the game around. SSG removed Kim Min and brought in Noh Kyung-eun to the mound. Against Noh, leadoff hitter Adelin Rodriguez hit a solo home run over the left-field fence (his sixth of the season). The score was now 4-3, a one-run deficit.

Continuing with one out, Na Sung-beom hit a two-run double over the right-field fence, followed by Han Jun-su, who hit a tying two-run double that landed just inside the right-field line. The score was 4-4. But this was not the end. With Han Jun-su replaced by pinch-runner Jung Hyun-chang at second base, Kim Gyu-seong hit a go-ahead, three-run triple to left-center field against Noh Kyung-eun, turning the score 5-4.

Before the comeback, strong pitching on the mound also shone. KIA starter Yang Hyeon-jong exited after five innings with four earned runs. Then Choi Jimin (one inning) and Han Jae-seung (one inning) pitched scoreless innings in the 6th and 7th. In the top of the 8th, Kwak Do-gyu found himself in a bases-loaded, two-out crisis, but Jo Sang-woo, who took the mound, got An Sang-hyun to a groundout to the shortstop, escaping the major danger. Jo Sang-woo became the 29th pitcher in KBO history to earn a 'one-pitch relief win' as the team's lineup immediately scored in the bottom of the 8th. This was his third win of the season (one loss). In the top of the 9th, KIA sent in 'closer' Sung Young-tak. Although he faced a two-out, third-base crisis, he recorded his seventh save by getting Jung Jun-jae to a groundout to second base.

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*This content was translated by AI.