"Unbelievable!" LG survives from hell! Doosan also smiles: "Im Chan-gyu vs. Yang Hyeon-jong showdown"... Lotte throws chili powder at KIA, "Ultimately, the 3rd-place decider will be settled in the final game on the 12th in Gwangju"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The KIA Tigers failed to secure a direct berth in the playoff semifinals after losing to the Lotte Giants. Now, the teams that will finish 3rd and 4th in the regular season will be determined in tomorrow's (the 12th) final game of the regular season.

On the 11th, KIA lost 1-4 to Lotte in a home game at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

With this loss, KIA finished with a record of 78 wins, 63 losses, and 2 ties, maintaining their sole 4th-place standing in the league. However, the gap between them and LG (78 wins, 64 losses, 1 tie), who did not play on that day, narrowed from one game to half a game. Lotte recorded a record of 63 wins, 77 losses, and 3 ties.

Had KIA won on that day, they would have secured 3rd place regardless of the result of their home final game against LG at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 12th. However, due to the loss on that day, the teams finishing 3rd and 4th will ultimately be determined on the final day. LG and KIA will face off in a decisive match at 6:30 p.m. on the 12th. LG announced "Winning Pitcher" Im Chan-gyu as their starter, while KIA named "Living Legend" Yang Hyeon-jong to start.

On the other hand, had KIA won that day, LG would have been locked into 4th place and would have had to prepare for the Wild Card Series game scheduled for the 14th at Jamsil Stadium. However, Lotte's victory over KIA effectively pulled LG back from the brink of disaster, allowing them to face the final regular season game with a chance.

Another team that is simultaneously smiling is the Doosan Bears. Doosan, who have already secured 5th place, will play their final regular season game against Lotte at Jamsil Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 12th. After taking a day of rest, they will enter the Wild Card Series on the 14th. A team ranked 5th must win both Game 1 and Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. Furthermore, as LG and KIA engage in a fierce battle until their season finale, Doosan will face whichever team is relatively drained in the Wild Card Series.

Lotte started with Kim Jin-wook on the mound. Their starting lineup was Victor Reyes (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Han Dong-hee (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Son Seong-bin (catcher), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Jang Doo-seong (center fielder), and Jo Se-jin (right fielder).

KIA's foreign ace Adam Oler took the mound as the starter. Their batting order was Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Han Jun-soo (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Park Min (shortstop).

Amid strong pitching from both starters, the tense "0" balance was broken in the 6th inning. Lotte hit a bases-loaded home run. The one who did it was Han Dong-hee.

In the top of the 6th inning with two outs, their focus shone. Leadoff batter Reyes reached on a single to left-center field and advanced to second base on Na Seung-yeop's subsequent infield hit. Lotte then extended the bases-loaded opportunity when Ko Seung-min drew a walk.

Then Han Dong-hee came to bat. He calmly took pitches one and two as balls. And then, pitch three. He connected with Oler's fastball down the middle (148 km/h) and smashed a grand slam over the center field fence. The distance was 125 meters. It was the moment Lotte seized a 4-0 lead in an instant. KIA managed to score one run in the 9th inning but ultimately failed to turn the game around.

Ultimately, Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook pitched six innings, allowing three hits and striking out six while giving up no runs, securing his seventh win of the season. Following him, Kim Won-jung, Choi Jun-yong, and Lee Imura each pitched one inning to fulfill their roles, protecting the team's victory. In a lineup that produced six hits, Reyes performed with multiple hits.

On the other hand, KIA starter Oler collapsed, pitching 5⅔ innings while allowing six hits, two walks, and five runs (four earned), striking out five, and taking the loss. Oler has now suffered his 10th defeat of the season (with 11 wins). Subsequently, Jung Hae-young (1⅓ innings), Kim Beom-soo (one inning), and Hwang Dong-ha (one inning) took turns on the mound, but they ultimately failed to turn the game around. In a lineup that hit a total of six times, Park Jae-hyun, Castro, and Na Seung-beom performed with multiple hits.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original