'How could this happen?' Why didn't they leave Kim Do-young alone? → A three-run homer in the 9th inning! → Ended with just four pitches from Lee Ui-ri, KIA's unstoppable four-game winning streak [Daejeon On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

With several regular starters absent from the starting lineup, the KIA Tigers, led by their ace, subdued the Hanwha Eagles, securing a spot in the winning series and extending their winning streak to four games.

On the 19th, KIA defeated Hanwha 6-3 in an away game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.

With this victory, KIA surged to a four-game winning streak, recording 58 wins, 48 losses, and 2 draws. They maintained sole possession of 4th place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Hanwha fell into a five-game losing streak with 48 wins, 55 losses, and 3 draws, holding onto sole 6th place.

KIA's starting pitcher Shirakawa pitched a season-high 6⅓ innings. He delivered a strong performance with two hits allowed, two walks, three strikeouts, and one earned run, but the bullpen surrendered an equalizer, delaying his fourth win of the season until next time. Following Shirakawa, Kim Beom-su (⅓ inning), Jeon Sang-hyun (0 innings, 1 earned run), Sung Young-tak (1⅓ innings), Jo Sang-woo (0 innings), and Lee Ui-ri (1 inning) pitched in succession. In the KIA lineup that managed seven hits, Park Jae-hyun and Kim Do-young both contributed with multi-hit performances.

Hanwha's starter White pitched a brilliant game with seven innings, five hits allowed (one home run), two walks, six strikeouts, and two earned runs, but he left the mound without a decision. He was followed by Jang Yu-ho (0 innings, one walk), Jo Dong-wook (⅓ inning), Park Sang-won (⅔ inning), Hwang Jun-seo (0 innings), Lee Min-woo (⅓ inning), and Jung Woo-ju (⅔ inning) in succession. The Hanwha lineup managed only six scattered hits.

On this day, Hanwha set its starting lineup with 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). This was the same starting lineup as the previous day (18th).

The starting pitcher was Owen White. White has shown particularly strong performance against KIA this season. Before this game, he recorded two wins with no losses, an ERA of 1.29 in two games against KIA, totaling 14 innings, 10 hits allowed (two home runs), two walks, 10 strikeouts, and two earned runs. Today, he succeeded in a quality start plus (seven innings with three or fewer earned runs as a starter) but wore the burden of defeat without support from his lineup.

Before today's game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon said regarding Moon Hyun-bin's condition after collapsing on the first base after one out in the 9th inning the previous day: "We checked and found he was fine, so we included him in the lineup."

In response, KIA set its starting batting order with Park Jae-hyun (right fielder), Park Jung-woo (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Oh Sun-woo (left fielder), Lee Ho-yeon (second baseman), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Jeong Hyeon-chang (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Shirakawa.

This lineup featured a significant absence of regular starters, including Kim Seon-bin, Kim Ho-ryung, and Ha Joo-seok. Compared to the previous day, Kim Ho-ryung was removed from center field, with Park Jung-woo taking on the dual role of center fielder and second batter. The clean-up trio of Kim Do-young-Castro-Na Sung-beom remained unchanged. Instead of Oh Sun-woo moving to left field, Park Jae-hyun entered at right field. The starting shortstop also changed from Ha Joo-seok the previous day to Jeong Hyeon-chang. Additionally, Lee Ho-yeon made a new appearance as the starting second baseman instead of Yoon Do-hyun who had played the previous day.

Before the game, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho began by saying, "Some players have been feeling unwell, so we rested them one by one, but many are missing." He then explained, "(Ha) Joo-seok and (Kim) Seon-bin will likely find it difficult to start today. However, they could be used as pinch hitters in the later innings. Since Jeong Hyeon-chang is currently the only available shortstop, if Joo-seok were to play, we would be considering him for around the 7th and 8th innings. Today, just like last season, we may have to play a game with 'Hampyeong Tigers'."

KIA took control early by scoring one run each in the 2nd and 3rd innings. In the top of the 2nd, KIA leadoff hitter Oh Sun-woo reached base with a double that cleared the left-field fence. Following one out, Kim Tae-gun drew a straight walk, and Jeong Hyeon-chang was hit by a pitch, creating a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Park Jae-hyun's fly ball went high into the outfield, and in the setting sun, Peraza failed to catch it. The ball eventually dropped between Lee Do-yoon and Peraza, allowing third baseman Oh Sun-woo to score.

In the top of the 3rd, KIA extended their lead by another run. A big hit finally broke through. With one out and no runners on base, Castro attacked a 148 km/h fastball that hung high in the zone on the fourth pitch of a favorable 3-0 count, drawing a solo shot over the right-field wall. This was Castro's 13th home run of the season. The distance was 115 meters. Exit velocity was 161 km/h, and launch angle was 43 degrees.

Meanwhile, Hanwha batters struggled to hit Shirakawa consistently. Peraza reaching base after one out in the 4th inning was Hanwha's first baserunner of the day. The first hit came even later. With no runners on and one out in the 6th inning, Sim Woo-jun hit a single that dropped between left field and third base. This marked Hanwha's first hit of the game.

However, Hanwha did not give up easily. They tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the 7th. After one out, Moon Hyun-bin reached base with a single to right field. KIA then replaced Shirakawa with left-hander Kim Beom-su. Kim Beom-su retired left-handed hitter Kang Baek-ho on a fly ball to third base before handing the mound to Jeon Sang-hyun. Against Jeon Sang-hyun, Noh Si-hwan hit a 130 km/h low forkball on the third pitch of a 1-1 count, launching a two-run home run over the left-center field wall to tie the game. This was Noh Si-hwan's 25th home run of the season. The distance was 130 meters. Exit velocity was 171 km/h, and launch angle was 36 degrees.

In the end, KIA emerged as the victors. In the top of the 9th inning, KIA's final offensive opportunity of the regular season, leadoff hitter Kim Tae-gun reached base on a hit-by-pitch against Hanwha reliever Park Sang-won. KIA immediately inserted Kim Min-gyu as a pinch runner for Kim Tae-gun. Hanwha then replaced the pitcher with Hwang Jun-seo. However, Hwang Jun-seo also struggled and issued a walk to Jeong Hyeon-chang, creating a bases-empty situation with runners on first and second.

Hanwha made another pitching change, bringing in Lee Min-woo. Against him, Park Jae-hyun hit a sacrifice bunt foul on the second pitch after taking a ball on the first, then drove a two-seam fastball past Sim Woo-jun for a go-ahead single to left-center field. This was the moment KIA regained a 3-2 lead.

This was not the end. With Park Jung-woo successfully executing a sacrifice bunt, Kim Do-young stepped up to the plate with one out and runners on second and third. Although there was an option to fill first base, Hanwha's bench did not leave Kim Do-young alone. In a favorable 2-0 count, Kim Do-young hit a three-seam fastball on the third pitch over the left-field wall for a three-run homer. This was Kim Do-young's 37th home run of the season. With this home run, Kim Do-young extended his lead over second-place Austin Dean (LG Twins) in the home run category by five. The distance was 110 meters. Exit velocity was 163 km/h, and launch angle was 44 degrees. KIA brought in Jo Sang-woo in the 9th inning. While Jo allowed a bases-loaded situation with no outs, Lee Ui-ri entered the game and induced a double play at second base from Moon Hyun-bin. Although the runner on third scored during the play, it did not affect the outcome. Ultimately, Lee Ui-ri finished the victory by getting Kang Baek-ho out on a fly ball to first base. Lee Ui-ri threw just four pitches in the 9th inning.

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*This content was translated by AI.