'Even with bases loaded and no outs, he survived the 6th-walk crisis.' Yang Hyeon-jong achieves KBO career 190 wins! 'Park Jae-hyun's 3 hits' — KIA defeats LG 4-2 [Gwangju Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers ace Yang Hyeon-jong (38) reached 190 career wins in the KBO with help from his lineup. Park Jae-hyun (20) drove in three hits and led the team to a second consecutive victory over the LG Twins.

On the 18th, KIA defeated LG 4-2 in a regular-season home game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this result, KIA secured a winning series with 2 wins and 1 loss, finishing the series with 36 wins, 1 tie, and 32 losses, maintaining fourth place. LG, now in a two-game losing streak, stands at 42 wins and 26 losses, keeping a one-game gap behind second-place KT Wiz (40 wins, 1 tie, 26 losses).

Starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong endured 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 6 walks, 1 strikeout, and 2 earned runs, securing his fourth win (5 losses) of the season. Following his victory over the Jamsil Doosan Bears on May 13, he reached 190 career KBO wins in his fifth attempt, becoming only the second player in league history to do so after Song Jin-woo (former Hanwha Eagles).

The path was not easy. Yang Hyeon-jong's fastest fastball on the day reached only 142 km/h. He threw a total of 89 pitches — 36 fastballs, 32 sliders, 17 changeups, and 4 curves — with 48 strikes and 41 balls, showing significant control issues.

Yang Hyeon-jong issued two walks in the first inning, facing a bases-loaded, no-out crisis. A throw to third base went awry during a pickoff attempt, allowing the first run. However, he retired the following batters on routine grounders. He continued to hold on, including a double play with no outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the third.

KIA batters rallied in support of their veteran. In the bottom of the fifth, Kim Gyu-seong and Park Min hit consecutive hits. Kim Ho-ryeong followed with a two-run, go-ahead double to center field, tying the game at 2-2. Park Jae-hyun's single to left-center was followed by Kim Do-young's ground ball to third base, allowing Kim Ho-ryeong to score the go-ahead run.

Afterward, Jo Sang-woo (1 inning), Kim Beom-soo (2/3 inning), Kwak Do-gyu (1/3 inning), Jung Hae-young (1 inning), and Sung Young-tak (1 inning) held the line scoreless. In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs and runners on first and second, Park Min's one-run, go-ahead double to left field sealed Yang Hyeon-jong's 190th career win.

KIA's table-setters shone brightly. Kim Ho-ryeong, batting first, went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored, including the go-ahead hit. Park Jae-hyun, batting second, went 3-for-4. Harold Castro, returning from a hamstring injury after 52 days, went 2-for-4 in a successful comeback game.

LG's starting pitcher Anders Tollhurst pitched well, allowing 8 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs over 6 innings. However, his lineup managed only 4 hits total, recording their fifth loss (7 wins) of the season.

LG's lineup that day consisted of Hong Chang-ki (right field), Park Hae-min (center field), Austin Dean (first base), Moon Bo-kyung (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Song Chan-ui (left field), Park Dong-won (catcher), Koo Bon-hyuk (third base), and Shin Min-jae (second base). Starting pitcher: Anders Tollhurst.

KIA countered with Kim Ho-ryeong (center field), Park Jae-hyun (left field), Kim Do-young (third base), Na Sung-beom (right field), Harold Castro (designated hitter), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Yoon Do-hyun (first base), Kim Gyu-seong (second base), and Park Min (shortstop). Starting pitcher: Yang Hyeon-jong.

Early momentum favored LG. In the top of the first, Hong Chang-ki drew a walk, Park Hae-min hit a single to right field, and Austin Dean drew a walk, loading the bases with no outs. As Yang Hyeon-jong attempted a pickoff at third base during Oh Ji-hwan's at-bat, the throw went wide, allowing a runner to score, making it 1-0. In the top of the fourth, with one out, Song Chan-ui and Park Dong-won drew consecutive walks. Koo Bon-hyuk then hit a line drive single to left-center on the first pitch outside, giving LG a 2-0 lead.

KIA launched a counterattack. Trailing 0-2, leadoff batter Kim Gyu-seong hit a single to right field after a seven-pitch at-bat. Park Min followed with a single to right field, placing runners on first and third. Kim Ho-ryeong then hit a two-run, go-ahead double to center field, tying the game at 2-2.

KIA ultimately took the lead. Park Jae-hyun hit a single to left-center on the first pitch from Tollhurst. Kim Do-young then hit a ground ball to third base, bringing Kim Ho-ryeong home to make it 3-2.

For LG, missing the opportunity in the top of the seventh was regrettable. Against reliever Kim Beom-soo, pinch-hitter Moon Jeong-bin drew a walk. Immediately, pinch-runner Lee Young-bin stole second base, and Austin Dean was awarded an automatic intentional walk, creating a first-out, runners-on-first-and-second situation. However, Moon Bo-kyung hit a ground ball to second base against reliever Kwak Do-gyu, ending the inning without scoring.

In the top of the eighth, leadoff batter Oh Ji-hwan hit a single to right field, but the opportunity was extinguished when Song Chan-ui was caught stealing second base. LG ultimately surrendered another run in the bottom of the eighth, confirming their two-game losing streak.

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*This content was translated by AI.