Professional baseball teams SSG Landers and KIA Tigers ended their fierce extra inning match in a draw.
SSG and KIA played to a 5-5 draw in the 6th game of the '2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League' held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 21st.
The game flowed in favor of KIA in the early stages. Starting pitcher Yang Hyun-jong pitched well with 6 innings, 4 hits allowed (2 home runs), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and 2 runs given up, and Choi Hyung-woo hit a three-run home run while Park Min added a solo home run, allowing KIA to take a 5-2 lead.
However, the game began to go strangely from the 8th inning. Closer Jo Sang-woo took the mound, but Guillermo Heredia and Han Yoo-seom reached base on walks, and Ko Myung-jun hit a run-scoring double to bring in a run. Park Seong-han was retired on a ground ball to first base, but Lee Ji-young walked, creating a two-out, bases-loaded chance. Jo Sang-woo barely escaped the crisis by striking out pinch hitter Choi Jun-woo with a swinging strikeout. From SSG's perspective, it was a missed golden opportunity.
Nevertheless, SSG soon found another opportunity. In the bottom of the 9th with 1 out, Choi Ji-hoon created a surprise bunt for a hit against closer Jung Hae-young, setting up the last chance. Oh Tae-gon also got a hit, unifying a one-out, 1st and 3rd base consolidation opportunity. Heredia hit a run-scoring hit, narrowing the gap to one run, and Han Yoo-seom also delivered a run-scoring hit, ultimately bringing the game back to even.
With closer Jung Hae-young collapsing, KIA entrusted rookie pitcher Seong Young-tak with a heavy responsibility. With the bases loaded and one out, Seong Young-tak allowed a sharp hit to pinch hitter Jung Jun-jae, but second baseman Kim Kyu-sung made a diving catch to snare the ball for an out. Although he gave up a hit to Park Seong-han on a full count of 3 balls and 2 strikes, right fielder Choi Won-jun made a strong home throw to nab the base runner Heredia at home plate, preventing a walk-off loss.
KIA overcame a potential loss with a remarkable defensive play in the 9th, but fell into another crisis in the 11th inning. This time, a defensive error was the cause. On the mound in the 11th, Kim Dae-yu induced a ground ball from lead-off hitter Choi Ji-hoon to the shortstop, but shortstop Park Chan-ho committed a fielding error, leading to no outs and a runner on 1st base. KIA immediately replaced the pitcher with Lee Ho-min, who, while attempting to hold the runner on 1st, dropped the ball, creating a no outs, 2nd base crisis.
However, SSG also failed to capitalize on this golden opportunity. Oh Tae-gon attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the ball popped up and was caught for a foul by the catcher, while Heredia walked on an automatic intentional walk. Han Yoo-seom hit into a 4-6-3 double play, leaving the game to end in a draw.
Both SSG and KIA showcased super plays and clutch hitting to avoid defeat. However, mistakes and errors that cost them the win also emerged. Ultimately, both teams finished the fiercely contested extra innings match with no gains after going through heaven and hell.
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