'Amazing' KIA hits another grand slam! The shocking and terrifying '3rd-4th' lineup... Yet even with a 16-5 lead and an 11-run gap in the 8th inning, Lotte's terrifying resilience cannot be taken lightly... Still, KIA advances once more toward the top of the standings [Gwangju On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The KIA Tigers, boasting formidable firepower, defeated the Lotte Giants on consecutive days, securing a winning series. However, they allowed a fierce comeback after giving up six runs in the top of the 8th inning while leading by a large margin of 16-5.

On the 26th, KIA secured a 16-11 victory over the Lotte Giants in their regular-season home game at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

The day before (on the 25th), Lee Ho-yeon hit the first-ever 'bases-loaded walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning' in KBO history, leading to a 16-5 win. Adding today's victory, KIA achieved a two-game winning streak and advanced once more toward the top of the standings. Having secured a winning series, KIA will now challenge for a series sweep on the 27th.

With this win, KIA recorded 62 wins, 50 losses, and 2 ties, maintaining sole possession of 4th place in the league. They succeeded with two consecutive wins. On the same day, NC Dinos lost to LG Twins, who were in 3rd place, keeping a half-game gap between them.

Meanwhile, Lotte recorded 50 wins, 60 losses, and 2 ties for this season. Lotte fell into a three-game losing streak. They are currently in sole possession of 6th place in the standings. With Hanwha Eagles (7th) and NC Dinos (8th) both losing today, Lotte maintained its 6th-place position, leading by one game percentage point over these two teams, just as it did the previous day.

Lotte's starting pitcher Rodriguez pitched 3⅔ innings (84 pitches total), allowing 6 hits (2 home runs), issuing 3 walks and hitting 2 batters, striking out 7, and surrendering 8 earned runs, taking his 9th loss of the season (7 wins). He was followed by Lee Young-jae (⅓ inning, 1 run allowed), Kim Han-gyeol (⅔ inning, 2 runs allowed), Jung Hyun-soo (0 innings), Lee Min-seok (1⅔ innings, 5 runs allowed), and Lee Jin-ha (1⅔ innings, scoreless). In the batting lineup that faced 20 hits, Reyes led the way with a home run, going 4-for-4 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Han Dong-hee also recorded 3 hits, while Go Seung-min and Park Geon-woo contributed with multi-hit performances.

KIA's starting pitcher Hwang Dong-ha pitched 2⅔ innings (43 pitches total), allowing 4 hits (1 home run), issuing 1 walk, striking out 1, and surrendering 3 earned runs before finishing less than three full innings. He was followed by Kim Tae-hyung (2⅓ innings, 2 runs allowed), Kim Beom-su (⅔ inning, 0 runs allowed), Sung Young-tak (⅓ inning, scoreless), Lee Tae-yang (1 inning, scoreless), Choi Jimin (⅔ inning, 5 runs allowed), Han Jae-seung (0 innings, 1 run allowed), Jung Hae-young (⅓ inning, scoreless), and Kwak Do-gyu (1 inning). In the batting lineup that managed 13 hits, the performances of Kim Do-young in the 3rd spot and Castro in the 4th spot were outstanding. Castro hit two home runs, going 5-for-3 with 7 RBIs and 2 runs scored, dominating the game. Kim Do-young also played a key role, going 4-for-2 with 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored, and 1 walk. Lee Ho-yeon also recorded a multi-hit performance.

KIA set its starting lineup in this order: Lee Ho-yeon (second baseman), Park Sang-jun (first baseman), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (left fielder), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Ha Joo-seok (shortstop), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Park Jung-woo (right fielder). Hwang Dong-ha was the starting pitcher. KIA also made changes to its first-division roster. Kwak Do-gyu, who had been sidelined since late July due to a thigh injury, returned to the first division. In his place, Yoon Do-hyun was excluded from the first-division roster.

Before the game, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho explained the background of the lineup change: "(Park) Jae-hyun had some body aches, so I was worried about putting him in the leadoff spot and decided to put Lee Ho-yeon there instead. He's still feeling it yesterday. It hasn't been 24 hours yet (laughs). I hope he can carry that energy through today."

Facing KIA, Lotte set its starting lineup as follows: Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Na Seung-yeop (designated hitter), Reyes (left fielder), Han Dong-hee (third baseman), Go Seung-min (first baseman), Han Tae-yang (second baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Son Seong-bin (catcher), and Jang Du-seong (right fielder). Rodriguez was the starting pitcher. Before the game, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "Iimura will take over as the closer starting today. He is currently the most reliable option. First of all, he has good control." He then added, "It seems Kim Won-jung won't be able to serve as the closer for the rest of this season."

An active hitting battle unfolded from the start of the game. Lotte scored first. In the top of the 1st inning with two outs, Reyes hit a double, and Han Dong-hee followed with an RBI single to left-center field.

KIA then turned the tide with one big blow. The protagonist was Kim Do-young. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Lotte's starting pitcher was Rodriguez. Leadoff batter Lee Ho-yeon reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and Park Sang-jun also reached base on a straight walk. Next, Kim Do-young stepped up to the plate. With a 2-2 count, he attacked a 155 km/h fastball that came in slightly high and outside the strike zone on the sixth pitch, sending it over the right-field fence for a three-run walk-off home run.

This was Kim Do-young's 39th home run of the season. With this, he broke his own record of 38 home runs set during the 2024 season when he won the MVP (Most Valuable Player), establishing a new personal single-season home run record.

Both teams exchanged two points each in the 3rd inning. In the top of the 3rd with two outs, Lotte drew a straight walk from Na Seung-yeop, and Reyes then hit a two-run shot over the right-field fence. In response, KIA scored one run in the bottom of the 3rd by combining leadoff batter Lee Ho-yeon's ground ball single to left field and Kim Do-young's RBI double to left-center field with one out. Castro followed with an RBI double to left-center field, extending the lead to 5-3.

Afterward, the game quickly tilted in KIA's favor. KIA scored three runs each in the 4th and 5th innings, pulling far ahead. In the bottom of the 4th, leadoff batter Park Jung-woo drew a walk, and then Lee Ho-yeon scored on an RBI double to left-center field. Following that, with two outs, Castro hit a two-run home run over the center-field fence.

In the bottom of the 5th, leadoff batter Ha Joo-seok's ground ball single to left field, Park Jung-woo's double to left-center field with two outs, and Lee Ho-yeon's straight walk created a bases-loaded opportunity. Then, during Park Sang-jun's at-bat, substitute batter Kim Seon-bin attacked the eighth pitch curve from the incoming pitcher Jung Hyun-soo, hitting an RBI triple that drove in three runs. The score quickly expanded to 11-3.

Lotte did not give up easily. In the top of the 6th, Lotte strung together Jeon Min-jae's ground ball single to center field, Park Geon-woo's ground ball single to right field, and Na Seung-yeop's walk with two outs to create another bases-loaded opportunity. Then, facing incoming pitcher Sung Young-tak, Reyes hit an RBI double to center field driving in two runs. The score narrowed to 11-5, a six-run gap.

In the bottom of the 7th, KIA seized a bases-loaded opportunity with leadoff batter Kim Tae-gun's walk, Park Jung-woo's hit-by-pitch, and Byun Woo-hyeok's straight walk. Then, during Kim Do-young's at-bat, a wild pitch allowed base runner Kim Tae-gun to score from third base, making it 12-5. Kim Do-young also reached base on a walk. In the subsequent bases-loaded situation, Castro hit a grand slam over the center-field fence, extending the lead to 16-5. This was Castro's 15th home run of the season. The score became 16-5.

It seemed the game would end anticlimatically, but Lotte ignited a fire again by scoring six runs in the top of the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th, KIA brought Choi Jimin to the mound. The catcher was changed from Kim Tae-gun to Ju Hyo-sang, the third baseman from Kim Do-young to Byun Woo-hyeok, the second baseman from Lee Ho-yeon to Jung Hyun-chang, and the left fielder from Castro to Kim Min-gyu. Ha Joo-seok moved to second base, and Oh Seon-woo was substituted in to play first base.

However, Lotte's batting lineup exploded fiercely. Leadoff batter Yoon Dong-hee hit a solo home run over the left-field fence. With one out, Lotte created a bases-loaded opportunity through consecutive ground ball singles to center field by Noh Jin-hyuk, Kim Dong-hyeok, and Jung Dae-seon. Then, with two outs, Park Seung-wook hit an RBI double to center field driving in two runs. KIA then changed pitchers to Han Jae-seung. Lotte added a left-field RBI double by Park Jae-yeop and an RBI double to left field by Lee Ho-jun driving in two runs, narrowing the gap to 16-11, just five runs behind. Ultimately, KIA brought up Kwak Do-gyu in the 9th inning to close out the victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.