Game Summary
In a wild finish at Gocheok Sky Dome, the Kiwoom Heroes pulled off an unlikely comeback to stun the visiting KIA Tigers 8–7 on Saturday night. Trailing by a run heading into the ninth inning, the Heroes loaded the bases with two outs and got an unlikely hero in Kim Jae-hyun, whose first career home run—a left-field blast off reliever Lee Ui-ri—ended the game in dramatic fashion. The Tigers dominated much of the contest but couldn’t hold on when it mattered most, leaving Seoul with nothing but regret.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
The Tigers struck early, striking twice in the third inning when Davidson’s two-run shot off starter Jeon Jun-pyo gave Gwangju an immediate advantage. Kim Do-yeong added a solo homer moments later off the same pitcher, and for five innings it looked as though KIA’s superior pitching would carry the day. But the Heroes chipped away with their own power display, and the ninth-inning collapse—a combination of wildness in the bullpen and poor execution under pressure—handed the game to Kiwoom in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Pitching Performance
KIA starter Nail was solid through six innings, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out eight. The right-hander kept the Tigers in front despite walking two batters and faced little trouble until the middle innings. His command was sharp early, though he relied heavily on his fastball once the Heroes adjusted.
The collapse came in the ninth. Lee Ui-ri entered as the Tigers’ closer but couldn’t record a single out. He surrendered a walk and a pair of hits before Kim Jae-hyun’s game-ending blast, finishing 0–1 on the night. The Tigers bullpen had been adequate otherwise—Jeon Sang-hyun, Seong Young-tak, and Lee Tae-yang each pitched briefly and retired the side in their appearances—but Lee’s inability to close the door proved fatal.
Kiwoom’s pitching staff was uneven. Starter Jeon Jun-pyo allowed three hits and two runs across five innings while walking five batters, a control problem that would haunt the Heroes through much of the game. The relievers that followed—Yun Seok-won, Cho Young-gun, Won Jong-hyun, and Park Jin-hyung—all gave up runs and struggled to keep the Tigers from extending their lead. That Lee Gang-jun earned the win despite pitching just one clean inning in relief speaks to how much the Tigers’ ninth-inning collapse carried the day.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | ||||||
| Neil | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Jeon Sang-hyun [H] | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sung Young-tak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Lee Tae-yang | 0 ⅓ | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Ui-ri [L] | 0 ⅓ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | ||||||
| Jeon Jun-pyo | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Yun Seok-won | 0 ⅔ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Jo Young-gun | 1 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Won Jong-hyun | 0 ⅓ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Park Jin-hyung | 0 ⅔ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Lee Kang-jun [W] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Offensive Highlights
The Tigers’ lineup was led by Park Jae-hyun, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and two doubles, driving in two runs. His aggressive approach at the plate kept the Tigers dangerous throughout the night. Kim Tae-gun contributed power with a two-run homer and a double of his own, while Kim Do-yeong’s solo shot in the third gave KIA early breathing room.
Kiwoom’s answer came from their bench and rotation. Seo Gun-chang finished 3-for-5 in a quiet performance at the top of the order, while Chu Jae-hyun also notched three hits. Davidson delivered when it counted, going deep for a two-run homer and finishing with four RBIs on three hits. Still, nothing mattered until the ninth, when Kim Jae-hyun—who’d been inserted late in the game—delivered the only hit that would be remembered.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA Tigers | |||||
| Park Jae-hyun | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kim Sun-bin | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Do-young | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Tae-gun | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Kim Ho-ryeong | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kiwoom Heroes | |||||
| Seo Gun-chang | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Choo Jae-hyun | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davidson | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Kim Jae-hyun | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Key Play
The defining moment came with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Kim Jae-hyun worked the count and connected on an 0–2 pitch, driving it over the left-field wall for a grand slam that won the game instantly. It was his first home run of the season and capped an improbable comeback orchestrated by a depleted Kiwoom lineup that had no business winning this game.
Standings Impact
The loss dropped KIA to 60–50 with two draws, holding fourth place in the standings. The Tigers remain well-positioned in the playoff race but squandered an opportunity to pad their advantage. Kiwoom, conversely, picked up valuable ground at 42–72, though their tenth-place finish indicates just how uphill their season has been. For a Heroes team that’s struggled most of the year, this sudden-death victory provides a rare bright spot and keeps them mathematically alive.