Game Summary
The KIA Tigers came from behind in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night, defeating the visiting Lotte Giants 8-5 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. After trailing through most of the game, the Tigers erupted late with four runs in the ninth inning, capped by Lee Ho-yeon’s grand slam with two outs to seal the victory. It was a stunning reversal for a Lotte team that had built a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotte Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| KIA Tigers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
The Giants entered the final frame with momentum, but the Tigers refused to let the game slip away. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lee delivered the decisive blow off losing pitcher Kim Won-joong, sending the home crowd into celebration. The win improved KIA’s record to 61-2-50 and kept their playoff hopes alive in the fourth-place position.
For much of the evening, Lotte controlled the pace. Hwang Sung-bin went 2-for-5 and worked the offense efficiently, while Reyyes contributed two hits. The Giants’ pitching staff held KIA in check through seven innings, but a lapse in the ninth proved fatal to their hopes of climbing out of the cellar.
Pitching Performance
Lotte’s starter Beasley delivered a solid outing through five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. He worked around a pair of wild pitches in the first and second frames that threatened to derail his start early. However, the bullpen couldn’t hold when it mattered most.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotte Giants | ||||||
| Beasley | 5 ⅔ | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Iimura [H] | 1 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Choi Jun-yong [H] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Won-joong [L] | 0 ⅔ | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| KIA Tigers | ||||||
| Shirakawa | 4 ⅔ | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Jung Hae-young | 1 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Beom-su | 0 ⅓ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sung Young-tak | 1 ⅔ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jo Sang-woo [W] | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Closer Kim Won-joong, entering with a 1-5 record, couldn’t escape the ninth-inning jam. He faced just four batters and gave up three hits and four runs before being pulled. The right-hander’s struggles this season continued to haunt Lotte in tight spots.
On the KIA side, starter Shirakawaworked four and two-thirds innings while surrendering five runs on seven hits. He struck out five but walked one, showing some control issues against a disciplined Lotte lineup. The Tigers’ bullpen, however, was nearly flawless down the stretch. Seo Young-taek pitched a scoreless inning and two-thirds to keep the game within reach, while Cho Sang-woo earned the win with a clean inning of relief.
Offensive Highlights
The Giants struck first, with Reyyes driving in one run in the early going. Nah Seung-yeop added an RBI double in the fifth to extend Lotte’s lead to 5-4. Jeon Min-jae went 2-for-3 and showed good at-bats throughout the contest. Son Sung-bin chipped in two hits and two RBIs.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotte Giants | |||||
| Hwang Sung-bin | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Na Seung-yeop | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Reyes | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jeon Min-jae | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Son Seong-bin | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| KIA Tigers | |||||
| Kim Do-young | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Na Sung-bum | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Sun-bin | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Park Sang-joon | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ho-yeon Lee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Ha Ju-seok | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
KIA’s offense sputtered for most of the night. Na Sung-bum managed three hits in five at-bats and drove in a run, while Kim Do-young contributed two hits to keep the Tigers’ hopes alive. Second baseman Kim Sun-bin recorded a hit and an RBI in a reserve role.
The early innings featured sloppy baseball from both sides. Ha Ju-seok launched a two-run homer off Beasley in the sixth to briefly put KIA within striking distance. But it wasn’t until the ninth that the Tigers’ bats truly awakened. With the game on the line, Lee Ho-yeon, who’d entered late in the contest, delivered the crushing blow—a right field line drive that cleared the bases and settled above the wall.
Key Play
Lee Ho-yeon’s walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning off Kim Won-joong ended all doubt. With two outs and runners at the corners, the young right-fielder connected on a pitch middle-in and launched it into the night. The three-run deficit evaporated in an instant. It was a moment that defined the game and left Lotte’s relievers with little to show for their effort.
The Giants had their chances to seal it, but double plays in the fourth and seventh innings limited scoring opportunities. Jeon Min-jae’s late-game pinch-run attempt in the ninth came too late to matter.
Standings Impact
The loss dropped Lotte to 50-2-59, keeping them firmly in the basement of the KBO standings. With nine games remaining, the Giants’ mathematical chances at a playoff push have nearly evaporated. KIA, meanwhile, sitting at 61-2-50, remains in fourth place but narrowed the gap on third with this crucial victory. The Tigers have now won four of their last six games and show signs of late-season momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.