'How could this be?' LG's Go Woo-seok deployed as a high-leverage reliever in the 6th inning, but KIA's Lee Ui-ri was pulled with one out and bases loaded in the 9th. In the end, the Tigers emerged victorious... Finally, they launched a fierce '2nd game' chase!

*This content was translated by AI.

KIA Tigers subdued the LG Twins and reignited the battle for third place.

On the 26th, KIA secured a 5-1 victory over LG in their home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field.

With this win, KIA improved to 72 wins, 58 losses, and 2 ties, moving into sole possession of fourth place in the league. Meanwhile, LG, sitting alone in third, recorded 75 wins, 57 losses, and 1 tie. The gap between third-place LG and fourth-place KIA narrowed from three games to two.

For the day, LG set its starting lineup as follows: Park Hae-min (center field), Moon Sung-ju (right field), Austin (first base), Song Chan-ui (left field), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Moon Jeong-bin (designated hitter), Koo Bon-hyuk (third base), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Shin Min-jae (second base). Starting pitcher for LG was Im Chan-gyu.

KIA set its starting lineup as follows: Park Jung-woo (left field), Han Jun-su (designated hitter), Castro (first base), Na Sung-beom (right field), Kim Sun-bin (second base), Ha Joo-seok (shortstop), Kim Ho-ryeong (center field), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Park Min (third base). Starting pitcher for KIA was James Nail.

KIA took an early lead by scoring one run each in the second and third innings. In the bottom of the second, leadoff hitter Na Sung-beom attacked a curveball from Im Chan-gyu on the second pitch with a 0-1 count, sending it over the right-field fence for a solo home run. This was Na's 29th home run of the season.

In the bottom of the third, with two outs, KIA displayed sharp focus. Park Jung-woo reached base with an hit to left-center field and successfully stole second base. Following that, Han Jun-su drove in a run with an RBI single to left-center, extending the lead to 2-0.

The bottom of the sixth inning was effectively the turning point. After one out, Castro reached on an infield hit up the middle, and Na Sung-beom followed with a hit to right field, putting runners on first and second. The next batter was Kim Sun-bin. As Im Chan-gyu threw a ball on the first pitch, the LG bench immediately reacted, bringing Go Woo-seok—who had been warming up—straight onto the mound.

However, as soon as Go Woo-seok took the mound, he issued two consecutive walks before striking out two batters. With a full count, his sixth pitch was a curveball that dipped low and outside, resulting in Kim Sun-bin drawing a walk.

KIA continued to maintain a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity. Ha Joo-seok stepped up to the plate. The first two pitches were fouled off. The third pitch, a curveball, turned into a wild pitch, allowing Castro, who was on third base, to score. The lead extended to 3-0. In the ensuing at-bat, LG managed to get Ha Joo-seok out with an infield grounder to third base, drawing a sigh of relief. The next batter was Kim Ho-ryeong. After a full-count battle, he connected on the sixth pitch—a 153 km/h inside fastball—and drove it into center field for a two-run RBI double. The score stretched to 5-0. LG immediately replaced Go Woo-seok with Woo Kang-hoon. Although Woo gave up an infield hit to Kim Tae-gun, he retired Park Min with a groundout to shortstop, closing out the sixth inning.

KIA's closer Lee Ui-ri struggled in the ninth inning and was ultimately pulled from the mound mid-inning. In the top of the ninth, after one out, Oh Ji-hwan reached base with a hit to left-center field. Subsequent batters Moon Jeong-bin and pinch-hitter Lee Jae-won drew consecutive walks, giving LG a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity. Park Dong-won then drew a bases-loaded walk on five pitches, scoring one run. KIA immediately replaced Lee Ui-ri with Kwak Do-gyu. Kwak struck out Shin Min-jae looking and retired Park Hae-min with a flyout to center field, preserving the four-run lead.

KIA starter Nail pitched six innings (91 pitches total), allowing five hits, walking one batter, and striking out six batters without allowing any runs, securing his 12th win of the season (7 losses). He was followed by Jeon Sang-hyun (one scoreless inning), Jo Sang-woo (one scoreless inning), Lee Ui-ri (one-third of an inning, one run allowed), and Kwak Do-gyu (two-thirds of an inning, scoreless). Kwak recorded his second save of the season and fourth of his career. In the batting lineup that produced a total of 10 hits, Na Sung-beom went 3-for-3, while Park Jung-woo and Kim Tae-gun each contributed with multi-hit performances.

In contrast, LG starter Im Chan-gyu took the loss after pitching 5⅓ innings (83 pitches total), allowing seven hits (including one home run), issuing no walks, striking out two batters, and surrendering four runs (all earned). This marked his sixth loss of the season (14 wins). He was followed by Go Woo-seok (one-third of an inning, one run allowed), Woo Kang-hoon (one-third of an inning, scoreless), Lee Woo-chan (one inning, scoreless), and Jang Hyun-sik (one inning, scoreless) in order. In the batting lineup that managed eight hits, Park Hae-min and Oh Ji-hwan each had multi-hit performances.

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*This content was translated by AI.