Na Sung-beom's '5-RBI Show', Lee Ui-ri's First Relief Win, Jo Sang-woo's Save After 324 Days: KIA Secures Perfect Second-Half Victory [Incheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers secured their first victory of the second half with a flawless performance.

On the 17th, KIA defeated SSG Landers 6-3 in an away game at Incheon SSG Landers Field during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

KIA, which began the second half with losses, improved to 46 wins, 40 losses, and 2 ties with this victory, maintaining fourth place. SSG, with a record of 32 wins, 53 losses, and 3 ties, now trails the bottom-ranked Kiwoom Heroes by 2.5 games after their win on this day.

KIA set its starting lineup as follows: Park Jae-hyun (right fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Herald Castro (left fielder), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Kim Seon-bin (second baseman), Jung Hyun-chang (shortstop), and Kim Gyu-seong (first baseman). Starting pitcher was Keisho Shirakawa.

SSG countered with the lineup: Jeong Jun-jae (second baseman), Park Sung-han (shortstop), Go Myeong-jun (third baseman), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Kim Sung-wook (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Choi Jun-woo (left fielder), and Jo Hyung-woo (catcher). Rookie pitcher Min-Jun Shin started for SSG.

Min-Jun Shin, who had ended the team's nine-game losing streak late in the first half, struggled from the outset, and KIA did not miss this opportunity. Park Jae-hyun drew a walk, followed by Kim Ho-ryeong reaching on an infield single to left field. A wild pitch occurred next. Kim Do-young also received a walk.

KIA seized a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the first inning. When Na Sung-beom hit a double to right field, two runs scored.

The subsequent sequence brought mixed results. Castro struck out, and after Han Jun-soo reached on a hit-by-pitch, Kim Seon-bin hit a hard ball that SSG third baseman Go Myeong-jun dove to catch, stepping on third base and throwing to first for a double play. For SSG, it was a sigh of relief; for KIA, deep regret over failing to extend the lead.

SSG immediately counterattacked after escaping the crisis in the bottom of the first. With one out and runners at second and third following consecutive singles by Park Sung-han and Go Myeong-jun, Jeon Ui-san hit a sacrifice fly to left field for one run, and Kim Jae-hwan followed with a single to right field for another, tying the game.

In the bottom of the second inning, SSG took the lead after two outs when Jo Hyung-woo and Jeong Jun-jae drew consecutive walks, followed by Park Sung-han's RBI single. However, pitcher Min-Jun Shin ultimately collapsed in the third inning. Leadoff batter Kim Ho-ryeong drew a walk against him, and Kim Do-young's shot to left field disappeared beyond the outfield fence. Runner Kim Ho-ryeong advanced toward home but had to return to third base.

But Na Sung-beom emerged again as the hero. After hitting a two-run go-ahead single in the top of the first, Na faced a bases-loaded, no-out situation against Min-Jun Shin. He drove a 141 km/h outside fastball over the left-field wall for his 18th home run of the season, giving KIA the lead. This marked Na's 300th career home run, placing him among the top 16 in KBO history.

SSG ultimately removed Min-Jun Shin early. Subsequent relievers Park Si-hoo (1⅔ innings), Choi Min-jun (1⅓ innings), Lee Geon-wook, and Jeon Young-jun (both 1 inning) held the line cleanly but failed to score any additional runs.

KIA's bullpen performance was also impressive, starting with Lee Ui-ri. Despite ongoing struggles this season, Lee appeared as a relief pitcher on the 17th following his appearance on the 16th. Entering in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and a runner at first, Lee struck out Park Sung-han to end the inning. He returned in the fifth, striking out Go Myeong-jun and Jeon Ui-san consecutively. Kim Jae-hwan was retired on a pop fly to third base.

Starting from the sixth inning, KIA's designated winning relievers executed their plan as scheduled. Jung Hae-young pitched a perfect inning in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, Jeon Sang-hyun retired four batters in order; in the eighth, Kwak Do-gyu took the mound and, despite allowing a hit to leadoff batter Jeon Ui-san, struck out Kim Jae-hwan, recorded a groundout by shortstop on Kim Sung-wook, and got Choi Ji-hoon out on a fly ball to right field.

In the top of the ninth, SSG brought in closer Jo Byung-hyun, but leadoff batter Park Jae-hyun immediately cut off any chase. He pulled a high fastball hard, sending it 130 meters into the upper corner of the right-field wall for a massive home run.

KIA inserted Jo Sang-woo in the bottom of the ninth. Although he earned 33 saves as the league's saves champion in 2020, he had lost his closer role since joining KIA last year but took the mound to close this game. After giving up a double to pinch-hitter Oh Tae-gon and a walk to Jo Hyung-woo, Jo struck out Jeong Jun-jae looking and retired Park Sung-han on a fly ball to left field. Facing a bases-loaded, two-out situation after issuing a full-count walk to Go Myeong-jun, Jo got Hong Dae-in on a groundout to second base and secured the victory.

With this win, Lee Ui-ri recorded his first relief victory since his debut, improving his season record to 2 wins (6 losses). Jo Sang-woo earned his first save of the season, marking his first save in 324 days since August 27 last year against SSG.

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*This content was translated by AI.