The KIA Tigers broke free from a two-game losing streak. Byun Woo-hyuk's instinct as a problem solver shone through. Lotte couldn't shake off the shock loss from two days ago and once again faced a comeback defeat.

On the 8th, KIA achieved a comeback victory of 5-4 in the first matchup of the season against the Lotte Giants in the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League' regular season held at Sajik Stadium in Busan. With this, KIA escaped from a two-game losing streak, marking the season at 5 wins and 8 losses. Lotte faced another two-game losing streak, unable to recover from the shock defeat against Doosan on the 6th, with a score of 12-15. Their record now stands at 5 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie.

KIA's starting lineup consisted of Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Wisdom (first baseman), Na Sung-bum (right fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Lee Woo-sung (left fielder), Byun Woo-hyuk (third baseman), Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Kim Gyu-seong (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Kim Do-hyun.

Lotte registered players like Hwang Sung-bin, Ko Seung-min, and Park Seung-wook, who had been conditioning in the second team due to injuries and performance issues, into the first team and immediately included them in the starting lineup. The starting lineup featured Hwang Sung-bin (center fielder), Jeong Hoon (first baseman), RAY (right fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (left fielder), Kim Min-seong (second baseman), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Ko Seung-min (designated hitter), Jeon Min-jae (third baseman), and Park Seung-wook (shortstop).

Lotte continuously seized opportunities from the first inning but failed to score enough runs. In the first inning, lead-off batter Hwang Sung-bin reached base with an infield hit, but Jeong Hoon was out on a shortstop double play. After that, RAY and Jeon Jun-woo's consecutive hits created a 2-out opportunity with runners on first and second, but Kim Min-seong ultimately did not capitalize on the chance.

In the bottom of the second inning, with one out, Ko Seung-min's single to left and Jeon Min-jae's infield hit off the pitcher created a first and third situation, and they managed to score the first run due to an opponent's wild pitch. However, there were no subsequent hits in the continued first and second base situation.

In the third inning, lead-off batter Jeong Hoon reached base with a double to the left-center. However, the middle of the lineup, including RAY, Jeon Jun-woo, and Kim Min-seong, all made outs, failing to score.

In the fourth inning, after one out, Ko Seung-min's double hit, but there were no subsequent hits. They added a run in the fifth inning. The lead-off batter Hwang Sung-bin reached base with a single to left and advanced to third base due to an error on the opponent's pickoff at first. With no outs and runners on third, Jeong Hoon was out on a line drive to the pitcher, but RAY hit a timely double to the right-center to extend the lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Lotte's starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook allowed only two walks until the sixth inning with one out and continued to pitch a no-hitter while giving up only one runner due to an error. However, after issuing a walk to Park Chan-ho with one out in the sixth, he gave up a single to Wisdom, breaking the no-hitter.

After that, KIA seized the momentum. With one out and runners on first and second, Na Sung-bum popped out to the shortstop, but Choi Hyung-woo kept the opportunity alive with an infield single to second base, creating a chance with two outs and loaded bases. Lotte's second baseman Kim Min-seong made a diving catch to prevent a score.

Lotte pulled Kim Jin-wook from the mound and brought in Park Jin, a strategic move. But it failed. KIA scored a run when Lee Woo-sung drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs. After that, Byun Woo-hyuk succeeded in a 2-RBI single to the center and completed a comeback to lead 3-2.

However, KIA could not score any additional runs. In the top of the seventh, lead-off batter Kim Tae-gun reached base due to an error on a pop fly to shortstop. Afterwards, Kim Gyu-seong's sacrifice bunt failed. Despite Kim Gyu-seong stealing second base and Park Chan-ho's single to center creating a first and third opportunity with one out, Wisdom struck out and Na Sung-bum popped out to center, failing to score.

In the end, Lotte equalized again. After one out in the bottom of the seventh, Hwang Sung-bin walked and successfully stole second base. Ultimately, with two outs and a runner on second, RAY hit a timely single to the right to tie the game at 3-3. KIA went ahead again in the eighth. In the eighth, lead-off batter Choi Hyung-woo created an opportunity with a double to left-center. Pinch hitter Park Jung-woo was out on a failed bunt attempt, but Byun Woo-hyuk hit a timely single to left to regain the lead at 4-3. With a walk by Choi Won-jun, KIA continued to have a first and second opportunity with one out, and Kim Tae-gun hit a timely single to left, extending the lead to 5-3. A fortunate irregular bounce went over the third baseman's head.

Lotte did not give up. In the bottom of the eighth, lead-off batter Kim Min-seong's single to left and Yoo Kang-nam's ground ball to third created a one-out, two-base opportunity. Ko Seung-min made an out, but Jeon Min-jae hit a timely double that went over the left fielder's head, narrowing the score to 4-5. However, Lee Ho-jun struck out, ending any further chances.

KIA's closer Jung Hae-young came in the ninth and secured his third save of the season. Byun Woo-hyuk excelled with 2 hits and 3 RBIs in 5 at-bats. Byun Woo-hyuk appeared at the critical moments of the comebacks. KIA's starting pitcher Kim Do-hyun fulfilled his role, pitching 5⅓ innings, allowing 9 hits, striking out 3, and giving up 2 earned runs, but did not earn the win.

Lotte's starter Kim Jin-wook pitched a no-hitter until one out in the sixth, but after creating a bases-loaded crisis and leaving the mound, the bullpen allowed all inherited runners to score, finishing with 5⅔ innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs, leaving a regrettable performance. In the lineup, Ko Seung-min, who returned to the first team that day, had 2 hits, while RAY recorded 3 hits and 2 RBIs, but it was overshadowed by the loss.

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