This season, the 'heat wave cold game' was introduced for the first time in the Futures League.

The KIA Tigers achieved their first heat wave cold game victory in the Futures League. KIA won the game against the SSG Landers on July 29 in Hampyeong, with a score of 10-3, declared a heat wave cold game after 5 innings.

On that day, a heat wave warning was issued in the Gwangju and South Jeolla areas, including Damyang, Gokseong, Gurye, and Suncheon, starting at 10 a.m. The Korea Meteorological Administration issues a heat advisory when the perceived temperature is expected to exceed 33°C for more than two days, and a heat warning when the perceived temperature is expected to exceed 35°C for more than two days.

When the game between SSG and KIA started at 11 a.m., the temperature was 29.2 degrees, but as noon approached, the perceived temperature rose, and some players complained of heat-related illnesses. The heat wave cold game was declared at 12:54 p.m., after completing 5 innings.

In the bottom of the first inning, lead-off batter Choi Jeong-yong reached base with a double that went over the right fielder's head, and with two outs and a runner on third, Lee Young-jae reached base on a hit by pitch. Han Seung-taek drove in the first run with a single to left field.

SSG reversed the score in the top of the third inning. Lead-off batter Choi Yoon-seok reached base due to a left fielder's error, and Lee Seung-min got a single to left, putting runners on first and second with a hit by pitch for Kim Tae-yun loading the bases. Lim Geun-woo earned a straight walk to tie the game at 1-1. Lee Won-jun and Kim Su-yoon each hit sacrifice flies, leading to a 3-1 lead.

With the perceived temperature exceeding 35 degrees, KIA had lead-off batter Yeo Jin-won walk against SSG pitcher Han Ji-heon in the bottom of the fifth inning. After one out, Choi Jeong-yong also drew a walk. Lee Woo-sung hit a fly ball to right field that was misplayed by the fielder, resulting in a throwing error, allowing KIA to come within 3-2 with runners on second and third. SSG replaced their pitcher with Lee Do-woo.

Park Heon reached base with an automatic intentional walk to load the bases. Seo Geon-chang came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk to tie the game at 3-3. Han Seung-taek hit a short flyout to center field, leaving two outs with the bases loaded. Park Sang-jun and Jang Si-hyun both drew walks, resulting in two straight runs batted in, overturning the score to 5-3.

Yeo Jin-won hit a timely single to left field on a full count, extending the lead to 7-3. SSG replaced their pitcher from Lee Do-woo to Choi Soo-ho. Park Jae-hyun hit a three-run home run over the right-field fence on a 1-ball count, bringing the score to 10-3.

With the game outcome becoming evident, the umpires declared a heat wave cold game after the fifth inning. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), both teams requested a suspension for player safety, and the umpires accepted the request, deciding on the heat wave cold game after the bottom of the fifth inning.

KIA rookie Kim Tae-hyoung took the mound as the starting pitcher, recording 3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs (1 unearned). Yoon Jung-hyeon earned the win with 2 innings pitch, allowing 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, and no earned runs.

Meanwhile, the Futures League will hold night games to avoid the heat starting July 8. Day games will continue from July 1-6.

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