"Unbelievable." The worst-case scenario that second-place Samsung does not want: KIA's two-game winning streak puts them just one win away from the playoffs, while LG's Lee Jae-won sheds tears in the dugout. What happened? [Pre-Playoffs Game 2 On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The KIA Tigers defeated the LG Twins, leaving them just one win away from advancing to the Playoffs (best-of-five series).

On the 18th at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, KIA defeated LG 6-3 in Game 2 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Pre-Playoffs (best-of-five series).

Having won Game 1 of the Pre-Playoffs against LG 5-1 on the previous day (the 17th), KIA secured a two-game winning streak. Now, with just one more victory, they will advance to the Playoffs, where "regular season second-place" Samsung Lions are waiting as the first team to qualify. However, for Samsung, which hopes to face an opponent that has expended as much energy as possible in the Pre-Playoffs, this can be called the worst-case scenario.

On the other hand, LG suffered a two-game losing streak and found themselves on the brink of elimination. KIA and LG will now rest for one day on the 19th before playing Game 3 of the Pre-Playoffs at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. on the 20th. KIA is expected to start Yang Hyeon-jong, while LG is expected to start Tolerhurst.

On this day, LG set their starting lineup in the following order: Park Hae-min (center fielder), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Lee Jae-won (right fielder), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Koo Bon-hyuk (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Im Chan-gyu, who had suffered the loss of a family member due to a mother's death on the previous day.

Compared to the previous day, it was notable that leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki was excluded from the starting lineup. Although Hong Chang-ki hit one single on the previous day, he has struggled to find his hitting form since the end of the regular season. Instead, Park Hae-min took over as the leadoff hitter, while Song Chan-ui was placed in the second spot in the batting order.

In response, KIA set their starting lineup in the following order: Park Jung-woo (right fielder), Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Castro (first baseman), Na Seong-beom (designated hitter), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Ha Ju-seok (shortstop), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder). The starting pitcher was Adam Oler.

Compared to the previous day, it was notable that Park Jung-woo, who had been excluded from the starting lineup due to cold symptoms, returned as the leadoff hitter. Park Jung-woo was placed in right field, a position previously occupied by Na Seong-beom. Following him, Park Jae-hyun entered the second spot in the batting order instead of Kim Sun-bin. The starting catcher also changed from Kim Tae-gun to Han Jun-soo.

KIA successfully attacked Im Chan-gyu in the bottom of the first inning alone, scoring a massive five runs. Im Chan-gyu started steadily by striking out leadoff hitter Park Jung-woo on a fourth-pitch swing-and-miss strikeout. However, after allowing a left-field single to the next batter, Park Jae-hyun, Im Chan-gyu issued a straight walk to Kim Do-young. With runners on first and second base and one out, Castro came to bat. He attacked the second pitch from Im Chan-gyu, hitting an RBI single that landed just inside the right-field line.

Afterward, the KIA lineup continued to explode. Subsequent batters Na Seong-beom hit an RBI double that landed just inside the right-field line, Kim Sun-bin hit a two-RBI double into left-center field, and Han Jun-soo hit an RBI double directly off the center-field wall. The score became 5-0.

Following Ha Ju-seok's right-field single, the LG bench made a move. They removed Im Chan-gyu and brought in relief pitcher Kennedy. After fanning Kim Ho-ryeong with a flyout to right field, Kennedy walked Park Jung-woo. However, he recorded an infield grounder from Park Jae-hyun to first base, ending the inning without allowing further runs. Im Chan-gyu's performance on this day was 1/3 innings pitched, 6 hits allowed, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 5 runs allowed. His total pitch count was 28.

As a result, the KIA lineup concentrated six hits in just the first inning, setting KBO Pre-Playoffs records for most hits in an inning (6), most consecutive batters with hits (5), and most consecutive batters reaching base (7). Additionally, the five runs scored in the bottom of the first inning tied the record for most runs scored in the bottom of the first inning in both Pre-Playoffs history and overall postseason history.

Despite the massive run concession in the first inning, LG did not back down easily. In the top of the third inning, with one out, Park Dong-won hit a double that landed just inside the right-field line. Subsequently, Koo Bon-hyuk hit an RBI single to center field, bringing runner Park Dong-won home from second base. The score became 5-1.

LG then recovered another run in the fifth inning. With one out, Oh Ji-hwan reached on a single to left-center field. Although Park Dong-won struck out, Koo Bon-hyuk recorded a single to left field. In the opportunity with runners on first and second base and two outs, Park Hae-min hit an RBI single to left-center field, bringing runner Oh Ji-hwan home from second base.

KIA once again broke LG's pursuit. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Son Ju-young, who had pitched a scoreless sixth inning, was removed and Kim Kang-ryul took the mound. Leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun reached on a double that landed just inside the left-field line. He then attempted a tag-up on Kim Do-young's sacrifice hit to center field and safely reached third base. After Castro was issued an intentional walk, Na Seong-beom hit a sacrifice fly to left field for an RBI. The score became 6-2.

LG immediately seized another opportunity to close the gap by scoring one run in the top of the eighth inning. With the pitcher changing from Sung Young-tak to Jo Sang-woo, leadoff hitter Park Hae-min reached on a single to center field. It was a moment where Park Hae-min struggled hard, hitting his third consecutive multi-hit game. After Song Chan-ui retired with an outfield flyout, Park Hae-min, who had reached second base on Austin's ground ball in front of the pitcher, eventually scored when Moon Jung-bin hit an RBI single to right field. The score became 6-3, narrowing the gap to three runs again.

Subsequently, Moon Bo-kyung hit a single to left-center field, creating a runner on first and second base opportunity. Here, Jo Sang-woo was removed and Jeon Sang-hyun took the mound. The next batter was Lee Jae-won. He fouled off the first-pitch slider, swung and missed on the second-pitch slider, and swung again on the third-pitch slider, resulting in a three-strike strikeout as he bowed his head. During LG's final offensive at-bat in the top of the ninth inning, broadcast footage also captured Lee Jae-won wiping away tears in the dugout. Ultimately, Jeon Sang-hyun took the mound in the ninth inning for KIA, successfully protecting the three-run lead to secure the victory.

Oler pitched well, recording 6 innings pitched, 6 hits allowed, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, and 2 runs allowed (2 earned), earning the win. His total pitch count was 94. Following him, Gwak Do-gyu (0 innings), Sung Young-tak (1 inning), Jo Sa-woo (2/3 innings, 1 run allowed), and Jeon Sang-hyun (1 inning) took the mound in succession to protect the team's victory. In a lineup that hit a total of 8 hits, Park Jae-hyun and Castro performed with multi-hits.

On the other hand, following Im Chan-gyu, Kennedy (1 2/3 innings), Lee Woo-chan (1 2/3 innings), U Kang-hoon (1 1/3 innings), Son Ju-young (1 inning), Kim Kang-ryul (1 inning, 1 run allowed), and Kim Jin-soo (1 inning) took the mound in succession for LG. In a lineup that hit a total of 9 hits, Park Hae-min with 3 hits and Koo Bon-hyuk with a multi-hit performance each fought hard.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original