KIA Finally Climbs to Third Place! 'Korean Series-Level' Pitcher Throws 35 Pitches the Day Before, Then Takes the Mound Again in the Bottom of the 9th: 'Miracle Pitching,' Three Runs Off LG in the Top of the 9th for a 'Thrilling Comeback Win' [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The KIA Tigers secured a thrilling comeback victory over the LG Twins, finally climbing to third place.

On the 4th, KIA defeated LG 6-5 in an away game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

With this, after winning 5-4 on the previous day (the 3rd), KIA has taken two games in this three-game series. Now, KIA will challenge for a sweep in the matchup scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 5th.

On the other hand, LG fell into a seven-game losing streak. With a record of 74 wins, 61 losses, and 2 ties, KIA jumped to third place in the league. LG, now alone in fifth place, marked a record of 75 wins, 62 losses, and 1 tie. The gap between the two teams disappeared from one game to '0.'

On this day, LG set its starting lineup in the following order: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Lee Jae-won (left fielder), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Koo Bon-hyuk (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Kim Yun-sik. Hong Chang-ki, who had been excluded from the starting lineup on the previous day, returned to action.

KIA set its starting lineup in the following order: Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Seong-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-soo (designated hitter), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Park Min (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Shirakawa.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, after Park Hae-min reached base on a single to left-center field with one out, he advanced to second base taking advantage of an error on a pickoff throw during Austin's at-bat. Subsequently, Austin hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence, making it 2-0. This was the moment Austin hit his 40th home run this season. With this home run, Austin closed the gap to one home run behind Kim Do-young (KIA) and Hillyerd (KT), who are tied for first in the home run category with 41 each.

KIA immediately counterattacked in the top of the 2nd inning. Leadoff batter Kim Sun-bin reached base on a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat. Following Han Jun-soo's hit by pitch, KIA secured runners on first and second. Continuing with two outs and runners on second and third, Park Min hit a two-RBI single to left-center field, tying the game at 2-2.

From the tied situation, LG pulled away again first. In the top of the 4th inning, with one out and no runners on base, Lee Jae-won attacked a low first-pitch fastball (146.7 km/h) from KIA starter Shirakawa that was located somewhat low in the middle of the plate, drawing a solo home run to left field. This was Lee Jae-won's 8th home run this season. The exit velocity was a whopping 191.9 km/h. The launch angle was 26.7 degrees. The distance was 133.1 meters.

After excellent pitching from both teams' staffs, KIA eventually tied the game in the top of the 8th inning. With two outs, Kennedy allowed a walk to Kim Do-young on the fifth pitch. Here, LG made a bold move by bringing Son Ju-yeong onto the pitcher's mound. However, after giving up a single to left field to Castro, they allowed Na Seong-beom an RBI hit to center field, and the game returned to a 3-3 tie.

However, LG did not back down easily. In the bottom of the 8th inning, with one out, Lee Jae-won drew a walk after a nine-pitch at-bat. Following this, Park Dong-won attacked Jo Sang-woo's slider (126 km/h) on the second pitch from a favorable 1-0 count, launching a two-run home run over the left-field fence. This was Park Dong-won's 13th home run of the season. With this two-run homer, the score became 5-3.

But KIA's late-game strength was formidable. In the top of the 9th inning, KIA's final offensive at-bat in regulation innings. Leadoff batter Hwang Dae-in reached base on a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Kim Gyu-seong. Following this, Kim Ho-ryeong hit a single to left-center field, giving KIA runners on first and third. LG removed Son Ju-yeong and brought in Woo Gang-hoon. Against such Woo Gang-hoon, Kim Tae-goon hit an RBI single to left-center field. The score was now 5-4, narrowing the gap to one run again. Kim Tae-goon was also replaced by pinch runner Kim Min-gyu.

Next, the KIA bench inserted left-handed batter Lee Ho-yeon in Park Min's at-bat. LG also removed Woo Gang-hoon and brought up left-handed pitcher Lee Woo-chan. Nevertheless, Lee Ho-yeon hit a tying RBI single that went past the shortstop, returning the game to a 5-5 tie. It did not end there. After Park Jae-hyun's sacrifice bunt created a one-out, runners-on-second-and-third opportunity, KIA succeeded in taking a 6-5 lead as Castro recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field. Ultimately, KIA brought Jeon Sang-hyun, who had thrown 35 pitches the previous day, onto the pitcher's mound in the bottom of the 9th. Jeon Sang-hyun threw 18 pitches and successfully preserved the one-run lead until the end.

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*This content was translated by AI.