The Kia Tigers clinched a thrilling extra-inning victory.
Kia won 7-6 against Hanwha in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL bank KBO League game held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 8th. They successfully targeted Hanwha's ace Cody Ponce, leading to a tight match, and took advantage of the opponent's critical error in the bottom of the 10th inning to stage a comeback. They succeeded in securing a valuable winning series during the weekend.
The match ended in the bottom of the 10th inning. Lead-off batter Choi Won-jun hit a double that slipped past the right fielder, giving them a chance to score. Hong Jong-pyo failed to advance him with a sacrifice bunt and then retreated after flying out to left field. Then, Han Jun-soo reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and Ko Jong-wook hit a ground ball to second base that had double-play potential, but the opponent's third baseman made a throwing error. Choi Won-jun stepped on home plate, sealing the victory.
Facing the top pitcher, Hanwha starter Cody Ponce, Kia fielded Yoon Do-hyun (second baseman), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Oh Seon-woo (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Wisdom (third baseman), Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Seok-hwan (left fielder), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder). They utilized Yoon Do-hyun as the offensive spearhead because he had been active as a lead-off.
Hanwha fielded Floréal (center fielder), Ha Ju-suk (shortstop), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Roh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-seong (first baseman), Lee Jin-young (right fielder), Ahn Chi-hong (designated hitter), Choi Jae-hun (catcher), and Hwang Young-mook (second baseman) against Kia starter Yang Hyun-jong. Although Ahn Chi-hong was struggling, they hoped to target Yang Hyun-jong using his ample experience.
Considering the starting match-up, a pitcher duel was expected, but both teams' line-ups came alive early. In the top of the 1st inning, Hanwha scored first with a deep double by Ha Ju-suk past the right fielder and a subsequent hit by Moon Hyun-bin, followed by a sacrifice fly from Roh Si-hwan. Kia responded in the bottom of the 1st with a hit from Yoon Do-hyun and a two-run homer from Oh Seon-woo, turning the game around. They took advantage of Ponce's 154 km/h two-seam fastball.
Hanwha's offense continued. In the top of the 2nd inning, they had a chance to score after Ahn Chi-hong's infield hit, Choi Jae-hun's single to center, and a hit-by-pitch by Hwang Young-mook loaded the bases. Floréal drove in two runs with a timely hit to center, turning the game again. They attempted a double steal with runners on first and third but were thrown out at home. Ha Ju-suk grounded out, allowing Kia to limit the damage.
In the 3rd inning, KIA benefitted from defensive errors. With no outs and a runner on first, Roh Si-hwan's ground ball with double-play potential was missed by Kia's third baseman Wisdom, allowing both runners to advance. After a sacrifice bunt from Chae Eun-seong, Lee Jin-young broke his bat but still managed to hit a single to left, bringing two runners home. Ahn Chi-hong hit another single that forced Yang Hyun-jong out of the game. Yang Hyun-jong faltered in his match-up with Ponce, leading to a shift in momentum toward Hanwha.
Kia failed to score with runners on first and second with two outs in the 2nd inning. However, right-handed reliever Seong Young-tak, who came in to relieve Yang Hyun-jong, pitched without allowing any runs. In the bottom of the 4th, after one out, Hwang Dae-in, who substituted for Kim Seok-hwan, hit a 120-meter solo home run to left, narrowing the score to 3-5. He capitalized on a 154 km/h fastball, marking his first home run in 638 days since the LG match in Gwangju on Sept. 9, 2023.
Building on their momentum, they finally tied the game. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Choi Hyung-woo was hit by a pitch and Wisdom walked, forcing Ponce out of the game. Although Choi Won-jun grounded out, Hwang Dae-in hit a double to left-center against reliever Park Sang-won, leveling the game at 5-5. Ponce pitched 5 innings, allowing 5 hits (2 home runs), 3 walks, striking out 7, and giving up 5 runs, failing to secure his 10th win. It was his most runs allowed in a game. Both teams then engaged in a fierce bullpen battle until the finish.
In the 8th inning, another offensive battle ensued. In the top of the 8th inning, Hanwha lead-off hitter Choi Jae-hun reached base with a single to left, prompting a pinch runner Lee Won-seok to come in, and pinch hitter Choi In-ho executed a successful and-run play to create a no-out opportunity with runners on first and third. Floréal's sacrifice fly put Hanwha ahead 6-5. KIA then equalized in the bottom of the 8th with Han Jun-soo's single and an error by Floréal.
Hanwha's offense in the top of the 9th fell short. After two outs, Chae Eun-seong hit a double to left-center. Lee Jin-young, who has been exhibiting strong hitting at Champions Field, came up and drew a walk. Veteran Ahn Chi-hong followed, targeting Jeong Hae-young, hitting a ball that got past the shortstop, but the runner on second was thrown out at home. In the 10th, they also failed to capitalize on a one-out, one-on-second-and-third opportunity.
[OSEN] Reporter