The defending champion KIA Tigers' bullpen allowed a shocking comeback loss. The bullpen's earned run average has fallen to last place in the league.

KIA scored 5 runs in the 8th inning against Kiwoom on the 7th, extending the lead to 10-3. With the bases loaded, Park Chan-ho received a walk, Kim Sun-bin hit an infield single (1 RBI), and Kim Do-young hit a bases-clearing double (3 RBIs), creating a big inning and taking control of the game.

KIA's mound featured starting pitcher Hwang Dong-ha (5 innings, 1 earned run), followed by Lee Jun-young (⅓ inning) and Jeon Sang-hyun (1⅔ innings) who shut down the game until the 7th. In the 8th inning, left-handed pitcher Choi Ji-min came on to face the left-handed batters in the 1st and 2nd slots for Kiwoom. He allowed consecutive walks to Song Seong-mun and Choi Ju-hwan, failing to complete his task. Right-handed pitcher Kim Geon-guk was then brought in.

Kim Geon-guk gave up a hit to Puig and found himself in a no-out bases-loaded situation, managing to get an out at home on a ground ball from Cardenas at third base. With one out and the bases still loaded, he allowed a 1-RBI clutch hit to Lim Byeong-wook and then permitted a grand slam home run to Kim Tae-jin, narrowing the score to 10-8 in an instant.

Jo Sang-woo took the mound. However, Jo Sang-woo also allowed a walk to Kim Dong-hyun and struck out Oh Seon-jin, then gave another walk to Lee Yong-kyu. The Kiwoom lineup went through once, and KIA's bench urgently brought in closer Jeong Hae-young with two outs and runners on first and second.

Jeong Hae-young walked Song Seong-mun, creating a two-out bases-loaded crisis. He then allowed a bases-clearing double to Choi Ju-hwan, conceding the lead at 10-11. Choi Ju-hwan, who had a strong track record against Jeong Hae-young with 5 hits in 10 at-bats, could not be contained. In the 8th inning, four pitchers—Choi Ji-min, Kim Geon-guk, Jo Sang-woo, and Jeong Hae-young—were used, resulting in a shocking comeback loss.

Last year, KIA's bullpen had an earned run average of 4.98, ranking third in the league. They were not far behind the first-place Doosan (4.54) and second-place Samsung (4.97). However, this year, KIA's bullpen is recording the worst earned run average in the league at 6.23. They have pitched the second-fewest innings at 120, following Hanwha (118 innings), but their earned run average is worse than that of the 10th-ranked Kiwoom bullpen (6.16).

KIA's championship bullpen from last year lost key member Jang Hyun-sik, who acquired free agent status, after signing a guaranteed 5.2 billion won contract with LG for four years. To fill Jang Hyun-sik's position, KIA brought in Jo Sang-woo, a former saves leader, through a trade with Kiwoom. They were evaluated to be stronger. Last year, KIA's bullpen pitchers threw around 50 to 70 innings each and were not overworked.

However, left-hander Kwak Do-kyu, who performed well last year (earned run average 13.50), left the team in mid-April due to an elbow injury and underwent surgery, ending his season. Key bullpen members include left-hander Choi Ji-min (1 win, 4 holds, earned run average 4.50), Lee Jun-young (1 win, earned run average 4.50), key member Jeon Sang-hyun (2 wins, 2 losses, 5 holds, earned run average 4.30), Jo Sang-woo (2 wins, 3 losses, 8 holds, earned run average 3.38), and closer Jeong Hae-young (1 win, 2 losses, 8 saves, earned run average 2.25), but they seem less reliable compared to last year.

In contrast, Jang Hyun-sik, who pitched the most innings (75⅓ innings) in KIA's bullpen last year, is currently with LG, holding a 1 loss, 5 saves, and an earned run average of 1.46.

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