'Could this really be?' Did he intentionally invite a bases-loaded, no-out situation? The aftermath revealed 'strikeout-strikeout-out,' and it turned out to be the result of a meticulous calculation.

*This content was translated by AI.

Decisive action followed. Kim Taek-yeon delivered a crucial scoreless performance in the bottom of the 7th with no outs and bases loaded. Even his decision to walk the first batter he faced was part of a meticulous plan.

On the 4th, Doosan secured an 8-5 victory over Kiwoom in an away regular-season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, Doosan improved their record to 41 wins, 2 draws, and 40 losses, achieving a winning percentage one game above .500. Additionally, they moved up to fifth place by overtaking Hanwha Eagles, who suffered a loss to LG Twins on the same day.

Doosan took an early lead in this match, scoring two runs in the top of the 3rd, three in the top of the 4th, and two more in the top of the 6th, building a commanding 7-0 advantage that seemed to seal their victory. However, Kiwoom rallied in the bottom of the 6th, scoring four runs to narrow the gap to 7-4, just three runs apart.

Then came Kiwoom's offensive surge in the bottom of the 7th. Facing pitcher Lee Yong-chan, leadoff batter Seo Geon-chang hit a double into left-center field, followed by Im Ji-yeol reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. The next batter was Davison. As Lee Yong-chan threw a first-pitch ball, Doosan's bench signaled for a pitching change—a bold strategic move made while the at-bat was still in progress.

Kim Taek-yeon entered the game to replace Lee Yong-chan on the mound. However, his control wavered early. With a 1-0 count, he threw three consecutive balls, issuing a walk and loading the bases.

But the crisis ended there. Kim Taek-yeon regained focus, striking out Hira with a 153 km/h outside fastball on the sixth pitch of his at-bat, inducing a swing-and-miss strikeout. He then retired An Chi-hong with another 152 km/h outside fastball on the sixth pitch, also resulting in a swing-and-miss strikeout. With two outs, he induced a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop from Park Chan-hyuk, closing out the inning. Ultimately, both teams traded one run each in the 8th, and Doosan secured an 8-5 victory.

After the win, Doosan manager Kim Won-hyeong praised starting pitcher Choi Seung-yong: "He showed confidence and delivered excellent pitching. He must have gone through a tough period without securing wins for a while, but he stepped up when the team needed him most."

Manager Kim added, "Kim Taek-yeon played a decisive role in securing the victory by preventing any runs with the bases loaded in a critical situation." He continued, "Lee Young-ha also did his part by recording four outs and shutting down the back door. The fielders maintained focus throughout and consistently created scoring opportunities through walks. In particular, An Jae-seok and Park Jun-soon made significant contributions by driving in runs during early-game scoring chances. Finally, I want to thank our fans who cheered loudly from the third-base stands despite being on an away game."

After the game, Kim Taek-yeon said, "Yesterday, our team failed to maintain a lead in a winning situation, so I was determined to hold it this time. I'm glad things worked out well."

He continued, "Since I started with a 1-ball count against the first batter, I thought, 'If we don't get a favorable count, we can still load the bases.' As the count grew, I chose not to force the issue and instead focused on competing with the next batter."

Kim Taek-yeon explained, "From the following batters onward, I sensed that the opposing hitters were handling breaking balls well from the early stages of the game, so I aimed to work the count with fastballs. Also, since I had used sliders frequently in my previous appearance three days ago, I assumed they would be expecting them. Creating a favorable count with fastballs and then engaging in battle led to a positive outcome." He reflected on how he approached the situation after thorough preparation.

Finally, Kim Taek-yeon stated, "I want to repay our fans for their support, but I still have many shortcomings. Since the first half of the season isn't over yet, I will improve my condition in the remaining games and deliver satisfying results." He reaffirmed his determination once more.

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*This content was translated by AI.