'Home run-home run-home run' KIA, 'Win-win-win-win' LG in fierce chase for third place... Hanwha plummets to seventh after 'four-game losing streak' [Gwangju Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The 'cannon squad' KIA Tigers enjoyed a pleasant four-game winning streak. The third-place spot is now within sight.

On the 21st, KIA secured a 7-3 victory over Hanwha Eagles at their home game against Hanwha Eagles at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, leading with three home runs.

With four consecutive wins and a record of 49 wins, 40 losses, and 2 ties, fourth-place KIA narrowed the gap to third-place LG Twins by 2.5 games on this day. Meanwhile, Hanwha, which fell into a four-game losing streak, recorded 40 wins, 44 losses, and 3 ties, swapping positions with sixth-place NC Dinos to drop to seventh.

KIA fielded its starting lineup for the day as follows: Park Jae-hyun (right fielder), Herald Castro (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Park Sang-jun (first baseman), and Kim Kyu-sung (shortstop). Hwang Dong-ha started on the mound.

Hanwha countered with O Jae-won (left fielder), Choi In-ho (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (center fielder), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Yonatan Peraza (designated hitter), Heo In-seo (catcher), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), and Park Jung-hyun (shortstop). Park Jun-young (24) made the starting appearance.

In the top of the first inning, Hwang Dong-ha allowed a hit to leadoff batter O Jae-won, then gave up consecutive hits to Noh Si-hwan and Peraza with two outs, conceding a run. However, KIA's lineup immediately launched a counterattack.

In the bottom of the first with one out, Castro attacked Park Jun-young's high fastball and launched a solo home run to deep center-right field for the lead. It was his eighth home run of the season.

Kim Do-young then reached base with a double to right field, followed by Na Sung-beom reaching on a first baseman's error. With one out and runners on first and third, Han Jun-soo did not miss the slider coming in the middle. His powerful swing sent the ball over the gap between center and right field for a three-run home run (his seventh of the season).

In the bottom of the second, Hanwha immediately changed pitchers, but KIA's leadoff batter Kim Kyu-sung drew a walk, followed by Park Jae-hyun attacking Lee Gyo-hoon's fastball to launch a two-run home run over the fence. Park Jae-hyun, who debuted last year, achieved double-digit home runs in just his second season.

KIA had already built a commanding 6-0 lead, and starter Hwang Dong-ha continued with stable pitching. There were moments of danger. In the second inning with two outs, consecutive hits and a walk put them in a bases-loaded crisis, but they escaped by getting Moon Hyun-bin to ground out to shortstop, finally drawing a sigh of relief.

In the third inning, starting with no outs and runners on first and second via a hit and a walk, KIA retired Heo In-seo and Kim Tae-yeon on fly balls to the outfield. Then, after issuing a walk to Lee Do-yoon to load the bases again, they got Park Jung-hyun to ground out to shortstop, escaping both bases-loaded situations without allowing any runs.

They held off one hit each in the fourth and fifth innings, threw 98 pitches, and handed over to Sung Young-tak from the sixth inning onward.

KIA, which had maintained a 6-0 lead through the seventh inning thanks to consecutive strong performances by Sung Young-tak (⅓ inning), Kim Beom-soo (⅔ inning), and Jeon Sang-hyun (one inning), faced a crisis.

Jung Hae-young, who entered in the top of the eighth, retired Lee Do-yoon on a shortstop fly out and Park Jung-hyun on a third baseman's ground ball before allowing a hit to O Jae-won. He then gave up consecutive hits to Choi In-ho and Moon Hyun-bin, eventually conceding a run.

KIA called upon Kwak Do-gyu, but they allowed a large double over the left fielder's fence to pinch hitter Han Ji-yoon, falling behind 3-6. The once comfortable game suddenly turned into a save situation.

There were no further crises. Facing Peraza, Kwak Do-gyu mixed fastballs and cutters to work the count, then threw a two-seam fastball that caught him off guard with seven pitches, inducing a swing-and-miss strikeout before roaring in celebration.

In the bottom of the eighth with one out, KIA carved out a run. Kim Sun-bin hit a ground ball to left field, followed by pinch runner Kim Min-gyu stealing second base. After a walk to Kim Ho-ryeong, Kim Kyu-sung's double made it 7-3.

Jo Sang-woo entered in the top of the ninth, retired Heo In-seo and Hwang Young-mok with strikeouts, and induced a ground ball to second base from pinch hitter Jang Gyu-hyun, securing the victory.

Hwang Dong-ha, who pitched five innings allowing only one run, added another win against Hanwha following his performance on the 9th of last month. He recorded his seventh win (three losses) of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.