'Chapman has arrived in Korea.' KIA is so solid! Kim Do-young's 36th home run! Nail's 9th win! Lee Ui-ri's save! Hanwha suffers a thrilling one-run defeat as KIA surges with 'three straight wins' [Daejeon On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Although they allowed a comeback, they did not permit a reversal. The KIA Tigers, boasting solid offense and defense, secured a victory against the Hanwha Eagles in the first game of their midweek three-game series, successfully seizing the initiative. In particular, closer Lee Ui-ri, transforming into a fireballer akin to MLB's Aroldis Chapman, unleashed a blazing fastball clocked at 155 km/h and recorded another save.

On the 18th, at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, KIA secured a thrilling one-run victory with a score of 4-3 against Hanwha in their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season away game.

With this win, KIA extended their winning streak to three games, finishing with 57 wins, 48 losses, and 2 ties. KIA maintained sole possession of fourth place in the league. Meanwhile, Hanwha fell into a four-game losing streak, recording 48 wins, 54 losses, and 3 ties.

KIA starting pitcher Nail pitched six innings (90 pitches total), allowing five hits, two walks, two hit-by-pitches, striking out three batters, and surrendering two earned runs, delivering a strong performance to achieve his ninth win of the season. Following him, Jeon Sang-hyun (one inning, one run allowed), Jo Sang-woo (two-thirds of an inning), and Lee Ui-ri (one and one-third innings) came in succession to secure the team victory. In the KIA lineup that recorded 13 hits, Park Jae-hyun, Castro, Kim Ho-ryung, and Ha Joo-seok all contributed with multiple hits. All starting batters except Kim Sun-bin recorded a hit.

Hanwha starting pitcher Wang Yencheng took the loss after pitching five innings, allowing seven hits, two walks, striking out three batters, and surrendering three earned runs. This was his fifth defeat of the season (10 wins). Following him, Jang Yu-ho (one inning), Lee Sang-gyu (one inning, one run allowed), Jo Dong-wook (two-thirds of an inning), and Lee Min-woo (one and one-third innings) pitched in succession. In the lineup that recorded nine hits, Kang Baek-ho fought hard with three hits, including one home run.

On this day, Hanwha set their starting lineup as follows: Choi In-ho (center fielder), Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-seong (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Taiwan national team pitcher Wang Yencheng.

Additionally, Hanwha called up pitchers Kim Seo-hyun and Jung Woo-ju, along with Hwang Young-mok, to the first-team roster. Before the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon met with reporters regarding their usage plans, stating, "Initially, we plan to use them in the 7th, 8th, or 9th innings as part of the chase crew rather than the winning lineup. We will see them pitch without mental burden. Afterward, we will discuss with the pitching coach and consider gradually moving them into the winning lineup."

KIA set their starting lineup as follows: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Sung-beom (right fielder), Kim Ho-ryung (center fielder), Ha Joo-seok (shortstop), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Yoon Do-hyun (second baseman). The starting pitcher was James Nail.

Ha Joo-seok left Hanwha via trade about a month ago on the 23rd of last month to don the KIA uniform. At that time, KIA executed a one-for-one trade sending pitcher Lee Hyung-beom to Hanwha, which changed Ha's fate. On this day, he faced his former team, Hanwha, for the first time since joining KIA.

KIA manager Lee Beom-ho commented on Ha Joo-seok's performance and starting appearance: "He has been playing well since coming via trade. He spent a long time playing in Hanwha. If you change teams, it is also something a professional player should do—to greet the new team here and show that he is performing well."

Hanwha took an early lead with one big hit in the bottom of the first inning, seizing the initiative against KIA. Leadoff batter Choi In-ho targeted a two-seam fastball (148 km/h) right down the middle on the fifth pitch after a 3-1 count and launched a solo home run over the right-field wall. This was his eighth home run of the season, the 393rd in KBO League history, and his first-ever leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. The distance was 125 meters. Exit velocity was 157 km/h, and launch angle was 26 degrees.

In response, KIA succeeded in scoring three runs in the top of the fourth inning to turn the game around. Leadoff batter Castro hit a ground ball single to center field, followed by Na Sung-beom's ground ball single to center field, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs. Kim Ho-ryung then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the score at 1-1.

Subsequent batter Ha Joo-seok attempted a sacrifice bunt but was out on a foul pop-up by the catcher, swallowing his disappointment. Then, when Kim Tae-gun hit a ground ball to the shortstop, the runner from first base was forced out at second base. With two outs and runners on first and third, Yoon Do-hyun hit a sacrifice fly to left field, followed by Park Jae-hyun's sacrifice fly to center field, extending their lead to 3-1.

Hanwha scored again with one big hit in the top of the sixth inning. Leadoff batter Kang Baek-ho targeted a cutter (141 km/h) right down the middle on the third pitch after a 1-1 count and launched a large solo home run with a distance of 125 meters. The distance was 125 meters. Exit velocity was 175 km/h, and launch angle was 36 degrees.

KIA responded immediately with another big hit. In the seventh inning, leadoff batter Park Jae-hyun reached base with a double that struck the right-field fence directly. Then, when Kim Sun-bin hit a ground ball to the shortstop, Park Jae-hyun, who was trying to score from third base, was thrown out. Runners vanished in an instant, filling two outs. It was a particularly frustrating moment since the next batter was Kim Do-young. Kim Do-young then faced Hanwha reliever Lee Sang-gyu and hit a cutter (134 km/h) on the third pitch after a 2-0 count, drawing a solo arch over the left-field wall.

This was Kim Do-young's 36th home run of the season. The distance was 125 meters. Exit velocity was 177 km/h, and launch angle was 23 degrees. Kim Do-young firmly maintained his sole lead in the home run category.

Hanwha did not give up easily. After KIA starter Nail came down, Jeon Sang-hyun took over on the mound. Leadoff batter Sim Woo-jun reached base with an infield single to third base, and while subsequent batter Choi In-ho struck out, he successfully stole second base. Then Peraza hit a sacrifice fly to center-left field, bringing Sim Woo-jun home. The score was once again narrowed to 4-3, a one-run difference.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hanwha faced KIA reliever Jo Sang-woo with no outs and runners on first and second. They chose to attack aggressively without bunting, but the result was an unfortunate failure. Lee Do-yoon hit a pop-up to right field on the first pitch, and Sim Woo-jun hit a pop-up to center field on the first pitch, both retiring the side. Jo Sang-woo's outing ended there. Then Lee Ui-ri came onto the mound, and pinch hitter Han Ji-yoon struck out swinging on the fourth pitch, swallowing his disappointment.

Eventually, Lee Ui-ri came up again in the ninth inning. He was Chapman himself. Lee Ui-ri handled leadoff batter Peraza with a ground ball to shortstop on the second pitch. He then induced Moon Hyun-bin into a ground ball to the shortstop on the fifth pitch, but Jung Hyun-chang's throw went high. The official record was an error by Jung Hyun-chang. The next batter was Kang Baek-ho, who had hit a home run earlier that day. Lee Ui-ri threw a fastball (153 km/h) down the middle for a strike on the first pitch. Then, on the second pitch, a curveball, Kang Baek-ho's bat swung and missed. Finally, on the third pitch, he threw a 154 km/h fastball on the outer edge of the zone, striking him out on three pitches. He then struck out Noh Si-hwan with a pop-up to center field on the second pitch, securing his third save of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.