The trade that brought in a crucial player at the cost of 1 billion won and two new player selections crumbled at an important moment.

The professional baseball team KIA Tigers lost 1-5 to the KT Wiz in the 8th match of the season held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 31st as part of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League.

KIA is missing Kim Do-young, Na Sung-beom, and Patrick Wisdom due to injuries. Adding to their woes, starting shortstop Park Chan-ho also complained of fatigue, and they brought out a Plan B lineup consisting of Yun Do-hyun, Hong Jong-pyo, Oh Seon-woo, Choi Hyung-woo, Kim Seok-hwan, Han Jun-soo, Hwang Dae-in, Kim Kyu-seong, and Kim Ho-ryeong, but there were no unexpected standout performances.

In the second inning, after one out, Han Jun-soo broke the ice with a double, but Hwang Dae-in popped up to center field, and Kim Kyu-seong hit a line drive to third base. After overcoming a jam in the second inning with no outs and the bases loaded, starter Yun Young-chul continued the momentum when leadoff hitter Kim Ho-ryeong made a single to right field in the third inning, but no subsequent hits followed. With one out and a runner on second after a steal by Kim Ho-ryeong, Hong Jong-pyo popped out to left field, and Oh Seon-woo fell to a fly out to right field.

KIA missed a chance with two outs and a runner on third in the fourth inning. Behind 0-1 in the fifth inning, they managed to tie the game after a consecutive hit by Kim Ho-ryeong and Yun Do-hyun, followed by a throwing error at first base by second baseman Oh Yun-seok that resulted in the equalizer. This was KIA's first and last run of the day.

The wasted opportunity in the eighth inning was painful. After one out, Oh Seon-woo hit a double that struck the top of the left wall, and Choi Hyung-woo got on base with an automatic intentional walk, placing runners on first and second. This time, however, Kim Seok-hwan struck out looking, and pinch hitter Lee Woo-sung ended the inning with a ground ball to third base.

Finally, KIA faced the eighth inning with the score tied at 1-1. Pitcher Jo Sang-woo, who had come in during the seventh inning with two outs and a runner on second, took the mound. He initially retired leadoff hitter Lohas thanks to a great catch by left fielder Kim Seok-hwan, but then suddenly lost his control, walking both Jang Seong-woo and Kwon Dong-jin in succession. This was uncharacteristic of 'trade ace' Jo Sang-woo.

With one out and runners on first and second, Jo Sang-woo faced Heo Kyung-min. He calmly built a favorable count with a foul on the first pitch and a strike on the second pitch, but his 133 km slider on the third pitch cruelly turned into a game-winning two-run double that pierced the left field line.

The next pitcher, Lee Joon-young, did not fare much better. He induced a ground ball from the first batter Jang Jin-hyeok, but first baseman Hwang Dae-in opted for home, allowing the third base runner Kwon Dong-jin to score with an immaculate sliding maneuver. Lee Joon-young was replaced by Kim Hyun-soo after allowing a run-scoring hit to Oh Yun-seok, and Kim Hyun-soo gave up a run-scoring insurance hit to Kim Sang-su.

Amidst the silence of the batting lineup, KIA’s trusted bullpen collapsed in the eighth, leading them to a two-game losing streak after two consecutive wins, bringing their season record to 26 wins, 1 tie, and 28 losses. The brief joy of returning to a .500 win rate was soon overshadowed as the win-loss margin widened back to -2, making recovery seem elusive. The KIA team endured a gloomy May until the last day.

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