Game Summary
The Kiwoom Heroes pulled off a minor upset on Friday night, defeating the visiting KIA Tigers 3-1 at Gocheok Sky Dome. It wasn’t a dominant performance by any stretch, but the Heroes made their opportunities count when it mattered most. The Tigers, sitting comfortably in fourth place, couldn’t generate enough offense to take down a struggling tenth-place squad that played with urgency throughout.
Un Woo-jin was the story for Kiwoom. The right-hander scattered four hits across seven innings, allowing no runs while striking out six. His command wasn’t perfect—he issued two walks—but he stayed out of trouble, consistently pitching to contact and letting his defense work behind him. It was a vintage performance from a pitcher who’s been searching for consistency in what’s been a difficult season for the Heroes.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
The Tigers brought Oller to the mound, hoping the veteran could keep things tight. For six innings, he mostly did, giving up just four hits and a single run. But baseball games don’t always reward steady performances. Two walks in the early innings put runners in scoring position, and Kiwoom capitalized on those opportunities when they came.
Pitching Performance
Un Woo-jin’s evening was marked by efficiency. He worked quickly through the Tigers’ lineup, rarely falling behind in the count. The six strikeouts came against a squad that’s capable of generating power, which speaks to the quality of his fastball location. He threw strikes when he needed them and avoided the big inning that might’ve put his team behind.
Oller lasted six innings for KIA before the bullpen was called upon. The damage came later, though. Cho Sang-woo entered in the seventh and immediately ran into trouble, allowing two runs on two hits without recording a strikeout. It was a harsh inning that essentially decided the game’s outcome. Jung Hae-young came on for cleanup duty and kept things from spiraling further.
For Kiwoom, the bullpen held firm. Won Jong-hyun threw a scoreless eighth inning, and Yu-to picked up the save in the ninth despite allowing three hits. The final frame got tense—the Tigers mounted some pressure—but the Heroes’ closer got the outs he needed.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | ||||||
| Eller [L] | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Jo Sang-woo | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jung Hae-young | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | ||||||
| An Woo-jin [W] | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Won Jong-hyun [H] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yuto [S] | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Offensive Highlights
Seo Geon-chang was Kiwoom’s offensive catalyst. The outfielder went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including the go-ahead hit that essentially put the game away. Playing in the third inning with a runner already in scoring position, Seo drove a single to center field that proved to be the difference-maker. His ability to come through in clutch moments has been one of the few bright spots for a Heroes team that’s struggled significantly this season.
Kim Gun-hee added another two hits, keeping pressure on the Tigers’ pitching staff throughout the night. The Heroes’ lineup wasn’t explosive, but it was productive when opportunities presented themselves—a recipe that won the game.
For the Tigers, Na Sung-bum delivered a run with his lone hit, and Kim Seon-bin went 2-for-4 with solid at-bats. The problem was the lack of run support for Oller’s decent outing. The team managed just four hits total and couldn’t string anything substantial together despite having opportunities in the middle innings.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | |||||
| Na Sung-bum | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Seon-bin | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | |||||
| Seo Geon-chang | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Gim Geon-hee | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Key Play
The turning point came in the third inning. Park Ju-hong had already doubled to put a runner in scoring position, and the inning was still young with just one out. That’s when Seo Geon-chang stepped in and punched his go-ahead single to center. It was a clutch at-bat against a pitcher who’d been relatively sharp, and it gave Kiwoom a 1-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The seventh inning became problematic for the Tigers when Kim Ho-ryong committed an error in the field. Combined with Cho Sang-woo’s struggles on the mound, it allowed Kiwoom to extend their lead to 3-0. By that point, the game was essentially decided.
Standings Impact
The Tigers remain in fourth place with a 60-50 record following the loss, still maintaining a comfortable cushion in their division. The Heroes stay planted in tenth place at 42-72, but this kind of win—against a team ahead of them—provides a glimmer of hope in what’s been a forgettable season. Every victory matters when you’re as far back as Kiwoom currently sits.