*This content was translated by AI.
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho, who orchestrated a dramatic walk-off comeback victory, shared his post-game reflections.
On the 25th, at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, KIA defeated Lotte Giants in their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game with a 9th-inning walk-off win, 8-5.
With this victory, KIA improved to 61 wins, 50 losses, and 2 ties, securing sole possession of 4th place in the league. They successfully ended their two-game losing streak and maintained a half-game lead over 3rd-place LG Twins.
KIA's starting pitcher Shirakawa pitched 4⅔ innings (74 pitches total), allowing 7 hits, issuing 1 walk, recording 5 strikeouts, and giving up 5 earned runs — facing his fifth loss of the season. However, the team's dramatic comeback victory spared him from defeat.
Following Shirakawa, Jung Hae-young (1⅓ innings), Kim Beom-su (⅓ inning), Sung Young-tak (1⅔ innings), and Jo Sang-woo (1 inning) pitched in succession. In a lineup that generated 13 hits, Na Seong-beom recorded 3 hits, while Kim Do-young and Park Sang-jun each achieved multi-hit games.
In the bottom of the 1st inning with two outs and runners on second base, Na Seong-beom hit a sacrifice double that slipped past the third baseman, driving in a run. Later, in the bottom of the 3rd inning with one out and runners on first and second, Kim Sun-bin delivered a bases-clearing single through center field.
However, in the top of the 5th inning, starter Shirakawa faltered, allowing five runs to score.
But KIA did not yield easily. In the bottom of the 6th with no outs and a runner on first, Ha Joo-seok delivered a decisive hit. After falling behind 1-0 in the count, he connected with a forkball thrown high and outside on the second pitch, launching a two-run home run over the left-center field fence. This was Ha's second home run of the season, traveling 120 meters. The score narrowed to 5-4, just one run apart.
Then came KIA's final offensive opportunity in the bottom of the 9th. Lotte brought in closer Kim Won-joong. After a single by Na Seong-beom with one out, followed by a hit from Kim Ho-ryeong and a walk to Kim Tae-gun with two outs, the bases were loaded. KIA substituted Lee Ho-yeon for Byun Woo-hyuk. With a 2-1 count, Lee attacked the fourth pitch — another forkball — and launched a dramatic walk-off grand slam over the right-field fence, becoming the hero. This marks the first time in KBO League history that a pinch-hit walk-off grand slam home run has occurred with two outs in the 9th inning.
After the game, "winning manager" Lee Beom-ho of KIA said, "This was truly an important game, and Lee Ho-yeon did something huge for the team. We had been preparing to use him whenever a chance arose in the bottom of the 9th. I trusted him because he had previously recorded hits against Kim Won-joong in head-to-head matchups, and he lived up to my expectations. I told him to ignore low pitches and focus on high ones; it seems he got a feel for the pitcher after swinging at a low first pitch."
He continued, "Without Sung Young-tak on the mound, the comeback would have been difficult. He entered in the top of the 7th with one out and bases loaded, a critical situation, and shut down the inning perfectly over 1⅔ innings. His velocity appears to be recovering. Jung Hae-young and Jo Sang-woo also pitched well without allowing any runs."
Finally, the manager added, "Had we lost this game today, our losing streak would have continued. But every player gave their all until the very end, which allowed us to win. Thank you to everyone for your hard work, and I am grateful to all the fans who supported us."
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*This content was translated by AI.
