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| ◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers |
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| ◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers |
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KIA Tigers finished the first half in a good mood by sweeping three consecutive games in Daegu.
KIA came from behind to win 8-3 against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Lions Park on the 4th. Hwang Dong-ha blocked Samsung's batters while starting pitcher Yang Hyun-jong gave up three runs in five innings early, tied the game with Choi Hyung-woo's timely hit in the top of the eighth inning, trailing 2-3, and produced a five-point big inning against Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan in the top of the ninth inning to win a thrilling come-from-behind victory. KIA, which defeated Samsung on the 2nd and 3rd, finished the first half of its schedule in a good mood by winning even the 4th. 48 wins, 2 draws, and 33 losses throughout the season. Samsung continued its lead until the seventh inning amid Kim Heon-gon's back-to-back shot and starter Baek Jung-hyun's good pitching of two runs in six innings, but Oh Seung-hwan collapsed again following the 2nd, causing a shock of five consecutive losses. 44 wins, two draws and 39 losses throughout the season.
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| ◇photo courtesy of Samsung Lions |
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| ◇photo courtesy of Samsung Lions |
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Samsung took the first place. In the bottom of the first inning, Kim Heon-gon and Koo Ja-wook made a walk-through in the second base with no outs that led to the first batter Kim Ji-chan's infield hit and stolen base, making it 1-0. However, KIA Choi Hyung-woo, who was the first batter in the top of the second inning, kicked the 138km first pitch that came in on the high course in the match against Baek Jung-hyun and connected it with a solo shot over the right fence, making the balance 1-1.
Samsung succeeded in bringing back the lead with a back-to-back home run. Kim Hun-gon hit a solo home run from Yang Hyun-jong to the left in the bottom of the third inning with one out and no runners. In the subsequent at-bat, Samsung led 3-1 as Koo Ja-wook's hit became a home run slightly inside the right pole.
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| ◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers |
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| ◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers |
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KIA's Kim Tae-kyun made a hit to the right with one out and runners on the first and second bases with one out made by Socrates Byun Woo-hyuk after one out in the top of the fourth inning, and Socrates ran home and followed him by 3-2 and one run. KIA created a chance with Choi Won-joon's advance hit to second and third bases with two outs, but Park Chan-ho failed to get an additional point as he stopped hitting a fly ball.
Yang Hyun-jong waited for the batter's support after blocking the fifth inning with a three-out, but Baek Jung-hyun kept the lead by making a three-out inning in the sixth inning following the fifth inning. In the end, with Yang Hyun-jong stepping down, KIA took the mound one after another with Kim Dae-yu and Hwang Dong-ha. Samsung's Kim Jae-yoon, who took over the mound in the top of the seventh inning, gave up a priority double to pinch hitter Choi Won-joon after one out, but Lim Chang-min, who took the mound in relief with two outs and third base, caught Kim Sun-bin with a fly ball and continued the lead by one point.
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| ◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers |
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| A game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 25th. KIA Hong Jong-pyo hit a timely RBI in the eighth inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.25/ |
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KIA was back on balance in the top of the eighth inning. Na Sung-bum made a hit to the right-center after one out against Lim Chang-min, who took the mound again, and pinch runner Park Jung-woo ran home to make it 3-3 on Choi Hyung-woo's double to the right-center. Choi Hyung-woo's pinch runner Hong Jong-pyo came forward, and Lim Chang-min chose to play against Byun Woo-hyuk with one out and one on the first and second bases by sending Socrates out to four pitches automatically. Lim Chang-min struck out Byun Woo-hyuk, and even Han Jun-su, who was Kim Tae-gun's pinch hitter, held a fly ball to right field and maintained his balance. Samsung failed to score in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the game was eventually decided in the ninth inning.
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| A game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 25th. KIA Socrates, who hit a two-run home run against Lotte Na Kyun-an in the first inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.25/ |
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Samsung put Oh Seung-hwan on the mound after finishing the game in the top of the ninth inning. KIA's Choi Won-joon struck out and Park Chan-ho only hit a fly ball, but Kim Sun-bin's double to the left continued the chance. Oh Seung-hwan automatically got Kim Do-young on base with four pitches, but Park Jung-woo made a two-run double over the height of the right field, turning the game around. KIA, which added one more point with Hong Jong-pyo's timely hit, celebrated its first-place finish in the first half as Socrates shot a two-run shot over the right-center field.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
