Kia Tigers achieved a miracle in the 8th inning to secure a comeback victory.
Kia staged a dramatic turnaround with a 7-5 win against the Lotte Giants in the 2025 Korea Professional Baseball Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League game held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 4th. After leading 2-0, they fell behind 2-5, but in the bottom of the 8th inning, following two outs, a two-run homer by Wisdom, a game-tying hit by Choi Won-jun, and a two-RBI go-ahead hit by Kim Tae-kyun led to a thrilling win.
Lotte's starting lineup included Jang Du-seong (center fielder), Park Chan-hyung (second baseman), Reyes (left fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Kim Min-sung (third baseman), Jung Hoon (first baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), and Kim Dong-hyeok (right fielder). Facing Kia ace James Na-il, manager Kim Tae-hyoung noted, "The veterans step up at crucial moments when needed."
Kia lined up Go Jong-wook (left fielder), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Wisdom (third baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Oh Seon-woo (first baseman), Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Tae-kyun (catcher), and Kim Kyu-sung (second baseman). The team started Choi Won-jun, who recently came off the bench, instead of Kim Seok-hwan. The reason was that he had prior experience facing Lotte starter Na Gyun-an.
Na-il returned to the mound after a break, making his first appearance in 12 days. He dominated Lotte's batters with his characteristic sweepers and two-seam fastballs. Lotte batters failed to get a runner in scoring position until the 5th inning. In the top of the 6th, after one out, Kim Dong-hyeok reached base with an infield single and successfully stole his 11th base, touching second for the first time, but no follow-up hit came.
Kia did not find success in their first inning against Lotte starter Na Gyun-an. Lead-off batter Go Jong-wook hit a double that went past the right fielder. However, he was thrown out at third while trying to advance on Park Chan-ho's pop fly to the right fielder. In the 3rd inning, Kim Ho-ryeong broke the ice with a powerful triple that hit the left field wall, and Kim Tae-kyun brought him home with a timely hit to left field. In the following situation with two outs and runners on first and second, an error by third baseman Kim Min-sung on Wisdom's ground ball allowed an additional run.
Na-il pitched flawlessly until the 6th inning, throwing 90 pitches with 7 strikeouts and allowing only 3 hits and no runs. He kept Lotte batters off balance with a maximum fastball of 149 km/h (24) and slides (33 pitches), utilizing six pitches including fastballs, changeups, cutters, and curves. However, the bullpen allowed the game to tie, preventing him from securing the victory. Na Gyun-an, who faced Na-il, also performed well until the 6th inning, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs (1 earned run). He achieved minimum runs allowed with a fastball, forkball, and cutter.
Once Na-il was pulled from the game, Lotte succeeded in rallying in the 7th inning. When Kia's Jeon Sang-hyun came on, Reyes reached base with a single to center field, and after one out, pinch hitter Na Seung-yeop also answered back with a single to center field. Veteran Jung Hoon struck a double to left-center, bringing all the runners home to tie the game. Kia lost the chance to challenge Na Seung-yeop's close tying run as they exhausted their video replay opportunities early.
Lotte failed to take the lead in the following situation with one out and two runners on base but attacked Kia's top hold man Jo Sang-woo in the top of the 8th. With runners on first and second and one out, Park Chan-hyung hit a misdirected single to center field, and Reyes followed up with a clutch hit that slipped between first and second base, successfully taking the lead. Veteran Jeon Jun-woo then exploded with a two-RBI double into the right-center field gap, extending the lead to 5-2. Kia allowed the counterattack after both Jeon Sang-hyun and Jo Sang-woo faltered.
Kia did not give up. When Choi Jun-yong came in during the bottom of the 8th, following Lee Chang-jin's single to center field, Patrick Wisdom launched a two-run homer (his 17th) to bring the score to 4-5. Choi Hyung-woo and Oh Seon-woo followed up with consecutive hits, creating an opportunity for a tie. Choi Won-jun did not miss the chance and hit a clutch single that exceeded the reach of the second baseman, tying the game.
Kim Ho-ryeong, who had hit a triple and a single earlier, drew a walk to load the bases, and Kim Tae-kyun delivered a two-RBI timely hit that split between the shortstop and the third baseman, creating a miraculous inning in which they took a 7-5 lead. Closer Jeong Hae-young held the 9th inning and secured the lead. This marked his 23rd save of the season. Lim Gi-young earned the win. Lotte lost the victory they had almost secured when Choi Jun-yong faltered in the 8th.
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