An 11-run lead in the eighth inning: 'A disaster could have occurred while trying to uphold KBO's unwritten rule.' The moment when Kim Tae-hyung and Lee Beom-ho, both managers, spoke directly: 'They even threw a towel...'

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To what extent should the unwritten rule apply in Korean baseball? In the KBO League, where the talent gap between leading teams and chasing teams is significant due to a relatively thin player pool, just how many runs of difference are needed to feel secure?

The Lotte Giants vs. KIA Tigers game on the 26th in Gwangju.

With KIA leading 11-5, they began their offensive turn in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out and bases loaded, KIA capitalized on a wild pitch by Lotte reliever Lee Min-seok to add another run. As Kim Do-young reached base via a walk, Castro followed with a grand slam over the right-field fence. The score instantly jumped to 16-5—an 11-run lead.

Immediately after Castro's home run, the Lotte bench made a massive substitution. Replacing Reyes, Han Dong-hee, Ko Seung-min, Jang Du-seong, and Park Geon-woo were Noh Jin-hyuk, Kim Dong-hyeok, Jung Dae-sun, Lee Ho-jun, and Park Jae-yup. This move was effectively equivalent to throwing in the towel.

In response, KIA made substitutions before taking the field in the top of the eighth inning, replacing Kim Do-young, Castro, Kim Tae-gun, and Lee Ho-yeon with Oh Sun-woo, Kim Min-gyu, Ju Hyo-sang, and Jung Hyun-chang. These were lineup changes meant to manage player stamina, typically reserved for situations where victory is virtually assured.

However, the situation changed dramatically during Lotte's offensive turn in the top of the eighth inning. Leading off with a home run by Yoon Dong-hee, followed by Park Seung-wook's two-run single with two outs and bases loaded, then Park Jae-yup's two-run double over the left-field fence, and finally Lee Ho-jun's two-run single to left field, Lotte scored six runs in total.

The game, once a 16-5 score—an 11-run lead—was suddenly narrowed to 16-11, just a five-run difference. A five-run gap is by no means an exaggeration to say it can be overturned within a single inning in modern baseball. For the team in the lead, this means they could suffer a disaster of losing after trying to uphold the unwritten rule.

So, does the unwritten rule—such as prohibiting stolen bases—apply in an 11-run deficit situation in the eighth inning?

Regarding this, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho stated in an interview with reporters on the 27th: "It definitely applies in the eighth inning." He added, "In yesterday's game, Lotte did not initially pull their first baseman back, so (we too) kept our first baseman positioned near first base throughout the later innings."

He continued, "Furthermore, when Lotte narrowed the gap to five runs, it was only natural for us to keep our first baseman close to first base. Based on the current situation, I believe the unwritten rule is applied when a team trailing by about ten runs in the seventh inning pulls their infielders back."

Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung also remarked: "In a situation like that—an 11-run lead in the eighth inning—they certainly do not run. I understand they typically do not run with a six-run lead in the ninth inning. In fact, even with a five-run lead in the ninth, managers of both leading and trailing teams rarely attempt such strategies; they tend to be cautious." He concluded sharply, "However, I cannot say for short series. There is no unwritten rule in short series."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original