Facing a three-game losing streak, the KIA Tigers rallied in the closing innings to give their home fans a valuable win.
KIA improved to 58-2 with a 7-6 win in the first game of a doubleheader against the LG Twins in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Monday.
Performing well under pressure, KIA starter Hwang Dong-ha pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Seven bullpen pitchers took over the mound to face LG, with Park Jun-pyo (⅔ innings) and Choi Ji-min (⅓ innings) in the eighth and Jung Hae-young (⅓ inning) in the ninth, respectively, pitching scoreless innings to secure the win.
At the plate, leadoff hitter Park Chan-ho stood out. Park made a lax play on defense in the top of the seventh inning that led to a run, but he made up for it in the bottom of the inning with a game-winning RBI single. In addition, Hwang Dae-in, the hero of the first inning, harassed LG pitchers with three hits, including a home run, while Lee Woo-sung also had a multi-hit performance.
After the game, KIA manager Kim Jong-kook said, “Hwang Dong-ha pitched well and lived up to the manager’s expectations. Although he gave up a run in the fifth inning, he did his job well. I also want to praise Jung Hae-young for coming in with a one-run lead and protecting the team’s victory.”
“It was a good start as the bats came out swinging and scored runs early on, but we were put in a difficult situation late in the game when we gave up a run. Koh Jong-wook, the pinch-hitter, once again lifted the mood by hitting the tying run, and Park Chan-ho showed his concentration in unfavorable ball counts to produce the winning run,” he said.토토사이트
“It was a tough first game of the doubleheader, but I’m glad we were able to end it with a win. All the players did a great job.” The second game of the doubleheader will start at 6:05 p.m. Lee Yi-ri will start against Son Joo-young.