The KIA Tigers of professional baseball wiped their startled chests.
KIA Tigers ace James Neale took the mound in the season 8 game against the Doosan Bears at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium on the 4th, pitching 5 innings with 6 hits allowed (1 home run), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs before being replaced. Although he had a margin with 86 pitches, he was replaced on the mound by Sung Young-tak at the end of the 6th inning for precautionary reasons after being hit on the right hand by a batted ball.
Neale made a play to block a hard-hit ball from Jake Cave with one out in the bottom of the 5th while leading 3-2, turning it into a ground ball out. However, during this process, he was struck hard on the right hand, and after the trainer checked his condition and he threw a few warm-up pitches, he finished the 5th inning but experienced swelling.
Fortunately, it seems he avoided a major injury. A KIA official noted, "Neale sustained a contusion on his right hand. There was minor swelling, so we replaced him for precautionary reasons. He is currently receiving ice treatment, and there are no plans for a hospital examination today."
As of the top of the 7th inning, KIA is leading Doosan 5-3.
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