3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure

May 04, 2025

3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure
3rd baseman Floral penetrates home and is safe when Hanwha and KIA play at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 4th and Hanwha Lee Jin-young's sacrifice fly with one out in the top of the 8th inning.Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.05.04/



6 wins in a row. The momentum of Hanwha Eagles is scary. He sweeps two games on the weekend and presses hard for the top spot.

Hanwha won 3-1 against the KIA Tigers in Game 5 of the season at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 4th. With the victory, Hanwha recently won six consecutive games. Since early April, it has continued its long-term winning streak with three consecutive wins, eight consecutive wins, and six consecutive wins. Hanwha, which has maintained its sole second place, is pressing the first-place LG Twins by one game. On the other hand, Kia has recently lost three consecutive games and is in seventh place.

▶Hanwha starting lineup =Ahn Chi-hong (designated hitter)-Kim Tae-yeon (right wing) -Moon Hyun-bin (left wing) -No Si-hwan (third baseman) -Chae Eun-sung (first baseman) -Lee Jin-young (middle fielder) -Lee Do-yoon (striker) -Choi Jae-hoon (captor)-Hwang Young-mook (second baseman) starter Ponce




▶KIA starting lineup = Park Chan-ho (fighter)-Wizdom (first baseman)-Kim Do-young (third baseman)-Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter)-Kim Sun-bin (second baseman)-Lee Woo-sung (right fielder)-Oh Sun-woo (left fielder)-Kim Tae-gun (fosu)-Choi Won-jun (middle fielder) Nail

3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure
Hanwha Ponce is on the mound for pitching in the bottom of the second inning while KIA nail is heading to the dugout after pitching at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 4th. Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.05.04/
While the two teams' first starters 'Ace' faced off, a tense pitching battle began from the beginning.

KIA stepped on the base first with a walk by No. 1 hitter Park Chan-ho in the bottom of the first inning, but the flow was cut off when Kim Do-young's double play came out after one out.




In the top of the second inning, Hanwha got on base with Lee Jin-young's walk after two outs, but failed to advance as the next batter, Lee Do-yoon, was caught on a ground ball to the second base.

KIA scored the first run in the bottom of the second inning. Choi Hyung-woo, the leadoff hitter in the inning, entered the second base due to the opponent's first baseman Chae Eun-sung's catch error. Choi Hyung-woo, who was on second base, advanced to third base when Kim Sun-bin grounded out to first base in a chance to second base with no outs.

Then came Ponce's wild pitch. KIA scored the first point of 1-0 when Choi Hyung-woo, who was at third base at Lee Woo-sung's at-bat, scored with a wild pitch. KIA had to be satisfied with one run as Oh Sun-woo's hit came out after two outs, but failed to produce additional hits.




After that, it's a pitching match again. Hanwha got on base with a ball hit by Moon Hyun-bin's body after one out in the top of the fourth inning, but the chance was canceled as it was checked out during the first base return, and KIA also had a runner to second base due to Kim Sun-bin's hit and opponent's balk in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Lee Woo-sung and Oh Sun-woo only made a mistake.

3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure
The game between Hanwha and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 4th, and Hanwha Choi In-ho, with two outs and runners on the first and third bases, is making a high five with first base coach Choo Seung-woo after scoring an RBI with an infield hit in the top of the fifth inning. The score was tied at 1 to 1. Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.05.04/
Hanwha tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. Lee Jin-young's double after one out opened the door. Lee Do-yoon hit a ground ball to the second base with one out and a second base chance, and in the meantime, Lee Jin-young entered the third base. With two outs and third base, Choi Jae-hoon got on base with a ball that hit his body, and runners piled up.

With two outs and runners on the first and third bases, pinch-hitter Choi In-ho's ball hit third baseman Kim Do-young and became an infield hit toward shortstop, and third baseman Lee Jin-young scored, and Choi In-ho became safe at first base. Hanwha succeeded in tying the game 1-1 in the fifth inning, bringing the game back to square one.

Since then, the attacks of both teams have calmed down again. In the top of the seventh inning, Hanwha shook the nail with Lee Do-yoon's double. 1 out and 2nd base chance. When Shim Woo-joon flew to right field, second baseman Lee Do-yoon advanced to third base, leading to an opportunity with two outs and third base. However, Lee Jae-won's groundout in front of the pitcher ended the inning.

3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure
The game between Hanwha and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 4th, and Chae Eun-sung of Hanwha, with the bases loaded with one out, is happy with an RBI come-from-behind hit in the top of the 8th inning.Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.05.04/
With the score maintained at 1-1, the starting pitchers of both teams pitched seven innings of 101 pitches and one run. KIA Nail retired after recording 3 hits, 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 run, and 101 pitches in 7 innings, and Ponce also pitched well with 2 hits, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks and 1 run (indemnity) in 7 innings. Nail broke her record for most strikeouts in a game.

And in the top of the eighth inning, Hanwha finally succeeded in turning the tables. He succeeded in attacking Jo Sang-woo. After 1 out, Kim Tae-yeon's hit and Floral's double start to pile up runners?C. With one out and runners on the second and third bases, Noh Si-hwan filled the first base with four automatic pitches.

3 consecutive wins → 8 consecutive wins → 6 consecutive wins again! KIA to sweep 2 consecutive games...First place, super close pressure
3rd baseman Floral is delighted after scoring a goal during the match between Hanwha and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 4th and Hanwha Lee Jin-young's sacrifice fly with one out in the top of the 8th inning.Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.05.04/
a bases loaded with one out. Hanwha turned the score 2-1 as Chae Eun-sung, who had no hit on the day, hit a timely hit while crossing the shortstop's height against Cho Sang-woo, and the third baseman scored. Following Lee Jin-young's fly to left field, the third baseman scored another run and scored a sacrifice fly RBI. Hanwha changed the flow of the game 3-1 completely.

Hanwha is on the defensive. Since Ponce stepped down, Han Seung-hyuk took the mound in the eighth inning as his second pitcher and retired three batters.

The bottom of the last nine, two points ahead. Closer Kim Seo-hyun took the mound. He struck out leadoff hitter Wisdom swinging, and allowed a hit to Kim Do-young after one out, but it did not collapse. He defended his team's victory by completely blocking the KIA-centered batting line leading to Choi Hyung-woo and Kim Sun-bin. Kim Seo-hyun earned his 10th save of the season.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.