161km/h foreign investor scoreless streak ends! 'Five innings were enough' Kim Do-young's go-ahead hit → Na Sung-beom's two-run homer 'KIA defeats LG 5-4, escapes two-game losing streak [Gwangju on-site review]'

*This content was translated by AI.

It took just five innings for LG Twins scoreless foreign investor Yassel Larios (33) to crumble. KIA Tigers' powerful lineup broke through with fastballs and snapped their losing streak.

On the 17th, KIA defeated LG 5-4 in a regular-season home game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With the win, KIA escaped its two-game losing streak and maintained fourth place in the league with 35 wins, 1 tie, and 32 losses. LG, failing to extend its winning streak to four games, fell to 42 wins and 25 losses, allowing KT Wiz in second place to close the gap.

The turning point came in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied at 2-2. Larios, who joined the team earlier this month to replace Yoni Chirinos, took the mound for LG. The reliever, who had thrown scoreless innings in two consecutive games with a top speed of 161 km/h, was hit hard. Leadoff hitter Kim Ho-ryeong opened the scoring with a double to left-center field. Kim Do-young followed with a single to left field driving in one run, and Na Sung-beom launched a two-run homer to left-center, instantly giving KIA a 5-2 lead. Sung Young-tak, who entered the game in the ninth inning, held off LG's fierce comeback and prevented any tying run, allowing KIA to escape the losing streak.

KIA starting pitcher Adam Oller pitched six innings, allowing four hits (one home run), three walks (two walks, one hit-by-pitch), striking out six batters, and giving up one earned run. Despite his strong performance, he did not earn the win. In the lineup, fourth hitter Na Sung-beom led the comeback with two hits in four at-bats (two home runs), three RBIs, and two runs scored. Na Sung-beom's two home runs in a single game came 449 days after his last such performance in a game against Gwangju Kiwoom Heroes on March 25, 2025.

Han Jun-soo also contributed with two hits in three at-bats, one walk, and one run scored, reaching base in three consecutive plate appearances. Kim Ho-ryeong recorded two hits in four at-bats, while Kim Do-young had one hit in three at-bats, one RBI, one walk, and one run scored, reaching base in multiple opportunities.

LG achieved partial success. Jang Hyun-sik, making his first start in six years, pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing six hits (one home run), three walks, striking out two batters, and giving up two earned runs in a successful return. Following him, Kim Jin-su pitched 1⅓ innings without allowing any runs and three walks, and Kim Jin-seong pitched one scoreless inning, laying the groundwork for a comeback. Kim Jin-seong reached his 800th career game appearance in the KBO, the seventh in league history.

In the lineup, Moon Bo-kyung recorded one hit in three at-bats (one home run), one RBI, one walk, and one run scored, while Cheon Seong-ho had two hits in three at-bats and one run scored. However, their efforts were overshadowed by the team's loss.

KIA's batting order that day was: Yoon Do-hyun (first baseman), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Park Min (shortstop), and Kim Gyu-seong (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Adam Oller.

LG countered with the following lineup: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Moon Sung-ju (left fielder), Cheon Seong-ho (first baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Jang Hyun-sik.

The home team KIA took the lead. In the bottom of the second inning with two outs, Han Jun-soo hit a double down the right-field line, and Park Jae-hyun reached base with a single to right field. Jang Hyun-sik then issued consecutive walks to Park Min and Kim Gyu-seong, allowing one run. In the bottom of the third inning with two outs, Na Sung-beom connected with Jang Hyun-sik's first pitch, a fastball, and hit a solo home run to center field. The ball traveled 125 meters, marking his 12th home run of the season.

LG also countered with a home run. Trailing 0-2, leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung in the top of the fourth inning hit a solo home run to center field off a mistake pitch from Oller. The ball traveled 125 meters, his fifth home run of the season.

LG eventually tied the game. Trailing 1-2 in the top of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Park Hae-min drew a walk from reliever Jung Hae-young. During Austin Dean's at-bat, catcher Han Jun-soo's throw to second base went into the outfield, allowing Park Hae-min, who was attempting to steal second base, to advance to third base. Jung Hae-young recorded a fielder's choice on Austin Dean and was replaced by Kwak Do-gyu during Moon Bo-kyung's at-bat.

Kwak Do-gyu induced a ground ball from Moon Bo-kyung, but shortstop Park Min failed to field it, allowing the runner on third base, Park Hae-min, to score. However, the inning ended without a lead change as Oh Ji-hwan was retired on a double play.

KIA, which successfully took the lead with Kim Do-young's go-ahead hit and Na Sung-beom's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, played a tight game until the end. In the top of the ninth inning against reliever Sung Young-tak, Moon Sung-ju drew a walk, and Cheon Seong-ho hit a double to left-center field. Park Dong-won grounded to second base, and Shin Min-jae grounded to shortstop, allowing all runners to score. Substitute hitter Song Chan-ui reached base with a single to left-center field, but Park Hae-min struck out on a nine-pitch at-bat with a swing and miss, preventing LG from completing the comeback.

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*This content was translated by AI.