The professional baseball team Kiwoom Heroes achieved a dramatic comeback victory, scoring 8 runs in the 8th inning.
Kiwoom broke their four-game losing streak with an 11-10 win against KIA in the ‘2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League’ game held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 7th. With fans filling the 16,000-seat Gocheok Dome throughout the Children's Day three-game series, they capped off the final game with a stunning comeback victory.
Struggling at the bottom of the league, Kiwoom's starting lineup featured Song Seung-moon (third baseman), Choi Ju-hwan (first baseman), Yasiel Puig (left fielder), Ruben Cardenas (right fielder), Kim Woong-bin (designated hitter), Kim Tae-jin (second baseman), Kim Jae-hyun (catcher), Oh Jun-seo (shortstop), and Lee Yong-kyu (center fielder). The Kiwoom batting line produced 10 hits and 2 home runs, achieving an unbelievable comeback win. Song Seung-moon launched his 6th home run of the season, and Kim Tae-jin hit his second career grand slam. Choi Ju-hwan excelled with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 4 RBIs, 1 run, and 2 walks, becoming the hero of the winning hit.
Starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg recorded 5⅓ innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 5 strikeouts, and 5 earned runs. The bullpen, consisting of Lee Jun-woo (⅔ innings, no earned runs), Won Jong-hyun (1 inning, no earned runs), Kim Yeon-joo (0 innings, 2 earned runs), Son Him-chan (0 innings, 2 earned runs), Yoon Hyun (1 inning, 1 earned run), and Joo Seung-woo (1 inning, no earned runs), struggled but ultimately secured the victory. Joo Seung-woo earned his 7th save of the season.
KIA's starting lineup featured Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Patrick Wisdom (first baseman), Lee Woo-sung (left fielder), Byeon Woo-hyuk (third baseman), Jeong Hae-won (right fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Park Jeong-woo (center fielder). The KIA batting line amassed 10 hits. Choi Hyung-woo came in as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning, hitting a 2-RBI triple, while Kim Sun-bin achieved 2 hits and 2 walks, reaching base 4 times. Kim Do-young contributed with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 4 RBIs, and 1 walk, but could not prevent the team from losing.
Starting pitcher Hwang Dong-ha pitched 5 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, earning his 2nd win of the season. The bullpen, consisting of Lee Jun-young (⅓ inning, 1 earned run), Jeon Sang-hyun (1⅔ innings, 1 earned run), Choi Ji-min (0 innings, 2 earned runs), Kim Geon-guk (⅓ inning, 3 earned runs), Jo Sang-woo (⅓ inning, 2 earned runs), and Jeong Hae-young (⅓ inning, 1 earned run), ultimately lost control of the victory.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, lead-off batter Oh Jun-seo hit a single. With Lee Yong-kyu's sacrifice bunt and Song Seung-moon's advancing hit, with 2 outs and a runner on 3rd, Choi Ju-hwan hit an RBI double to score the first run. Puig struck out.
In the top of the 4th inning, KIA's lead-off batter Wisdom hit a double. Lee Woo-sung was out on a ground ball to the third baseman, but a 2nd baseman error on Byeon Woo-hyuk's hit allowed KIA to tie the game at 1-1. After that, both Jeong Hae-won and Han Seung-taek were caught in pop-ups. In the 5th inning with 2 outs, Kim Sun-bin advanced to second base on a walk and a stolen base, and Kim Do-young also drew a walk, but Wisdom struck out.
KIA had another good opportunity in the 6th inning. Lead-off batter Lee Woo-sung hit a single, and Byeon Woo-hyuk followed with a double, creating a no-out opportunity with runners on 2nd and 3rd. KIA sent in Choi Hyung-woo as a pinch hitter, who hit a sharp ground ball. Left fielder Puig attempted a sliding catch but dropped the ball, resulting in a 2-RBI triple.
Following that, Han Seung-taek was out on a ground ball to the shortstop. However, Park Jeong-woo hit an RBI single to add another run. After Park Chan-ho's fly out to center field, Kim Sun-bin earned a walk, and Kim Do-young hit another RBI single, extending the score gap to 5-1. Runner Kim Sun-bin on second attempted to advance to third but was tagged out.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, lead-off batter Song Seung-moon hit a solo home run, narrowing the gap by one run. In the same inning, with 2 outs, Cardenas hit a double, and pinch hitter Lim Byeong-wook contributed with an RBI single, closing the score to 3-5.
In the top of the 8th inning, KIA's lead-off batter Oh Seon-woo hit a single, and Han Seung-taek reached base on a hit by pitch. Kiwoom pitcher Kim Yeon-joo was ejected for a headshot automatic dismissal. KIA’s Park Jeong-woo drew a walk, and Park Chan-ho also earned an RBI walk. After Kim Sun-bin's RBI infield single, Kim Do-young hit a 3-RBI double, widening the score gap to 10-3.
Kiwoom retaliated in the bottom of the 8th inning. Lead-off batters Song Seung-moon and Choi Ju-hwan drew walks, and Puig's single created a no-out bases loaded opportunity. Cardenas hit a ground ball to the third baseman, leading to an out at home for the runner on third. However, Lim Byeong-wook hit an RBI single, and followed by Kim Tae-jin hitting a grand slam, leaving the outcome in suspense.
Kiwoom continued the chance with a walk by Kim Dong-heon, but pinch hitter Oh Seon-jin struck out. In Lee Yong-kyu's at-bat, Kim Dong-heon advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and Lee Yong-kyu earned a walk. KIA brought in closer Jeong Hae-young, but Song Seung-moon also drew a walk, creating a 2-out bases loaded opportunity. Choi Ju-hwan hit a 3-RBI double, turning the game around. In the top of the 9th, closer Joo Seung-woo sealed the game.
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