The SSG Landers continued their fierce battle for the top spot with an upset win over the KIA Tigers.
SSG won 6-5 against KIA on Tuesday at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field.
SSG got off to a shaky start with two runs in the top of the first inning, but responded with a big inning (four runs) in the top of the fourth, tied the game again in the top of the fifth, and scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-4 lead. SSG gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but held on for the win.
SSG got off to a shaky start as starter Kim Kwang-hyun gave up back-to-back singles to KIA’s Lee Woo-sung and Byun Woo-hyuk in the top of the first inning. However, they turned the tables in the top of the fourth inning with a four-run explosion against KIA starter Panoni.
SSG’s leadoff hitter Choi Ji-hoon led off with a single to left-center but was thrown out at the plate. However, with the bases loaded, Choi drew a walk and Heredia singled up the middle to put runners on first and second.
Han Yoo-seom, who has been hitting well lately, took advantage of the opportunity and started the rally with a single to right-center. Kim Sung-hyun followed with a single to left to tie the game at 2-2.
Park Sung-young singled to left to load the bases, and Ha Jae-hoon blasted a two-run double to left-center to make it 4-2.
SSG gave up an RBI single to Lee Woo-seong in the bottom of the fifth, and Byun Woo-hyuk’s grounder allowed a runner to score from third base to tie the game again at 4-4.
But in the top of the seventh, they scored two precious runs to take a 6-4 lead. Leadoff hitter Ha Jae-hoon singled up the middle, and with runners on first and second, Oh Tae-gon lined a single to right-center. Choi Ji-hoon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Choo Shin-soo made it 6-4 with an RBI triple to right field.
SSG cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the ninth when Seo Jin-yong lined a single up the middle to Socrates with the bases loaded, but Lee got Woo-sung Lee to fly out to right field to end the game. Seo earned his 41st save of the season.
In the SSG batting lineup, which pounded out 13 hits, Choi Ji-hoon went 2-for-4 with a double, Han Yoo-seom went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Kim Sung-hyun went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Park Sung-han went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Ha Jae-hoon went 2-for-4 with an RBI. After the game, SSG head coach Kim Won-hyung said, “(Choi) Ji-hoon and (Park) Sung-han showed good performances after returning from the ‘Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games’.”
SSG’s starter Kim Kwang-hyun gave up four runs (two earned) in five innings, but veteran Noh Kyung-eun bounced back with 2.1 scoreless innings of 스포츠토토 relief. Coach Kim Won-hyung said, “Noh Kyung-eun pitched 2.1 innings in the middle to set the stage for the comeback. Thanks to her, the team was able to win the game,” said Kim Won-hyung.
For KIA, Panoni gave up four runs in 5.1 innings, Yoon Jung-hyun gave up one run in 0.1 innings, and Lee Jun-young gave up one run in 0.1 innings. Kim Do-young, Socrates, and Lee Woo-sung had multi-hit games (two hits) for the KIA bats, which pounded out nine hits, but were overshadowed by the loss. With the loss, KIA is now four games out of fifth place. They have only five games remaining.
