Choi Hyung-woo's first three-run → KIA defeated NC to win the Winning Series

Jun 15, 2025

Choi Hyung-woo's first three-run → KIA defeated NC to win the Winning Series
James Nail. Photograph=KIA Tigers



KIA Tigers succeeded in winning by using nail's flawless pitching.

KIA won 4-2 in Game 7 of the season at Changwon NC Park on the 15th. KIA, which has recently won two consecutive games with this victory, decorated its three consecutive weekend series with the Winning Series. On the other hand, NC recently lost two consecutive games, delaying the opportunity to rebound in the rankings.

▶KIA starting lineup = Lee Chang-jin (left fielder)-Park Chan-ho (fielders)-Patrick Wisdom (third baseman)-Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter)-Hwang Dae-in (first baseman)-Oh Seon-woo (right fielder)-Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder)-Kim Tae-gun (capture)-Park Min (second baseman) starter James Nail




▶NC starting lineup = Kim Joo-won (striker)-Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder)-Park Min-woo (second baseman)-Matt Davidson (first baseman)-Park Gun-woo (designated hitter)- Son A-seop (right fielder)-Han Seok-hyun (middle fielder)-Ahn Jung-yeol (capture)-Kim Han-byeol (third baseman) starting pitcher Logan Allen

KIA had a chance to score from the first inning, but failed to connect to the score. With consecutive hits by Lee Chang-jin and Park Chan-ho in the top of the first inning, no outs and runners on the first and second bases. However, Wizdom and Choi Hyung-woo, the main batters, were caught with consecutive fly balls, and Hwang Dae-in was also hit by a strikeout, which resulted in a scoreless game.

KIA also had Kim Ho-ryeong's double in the top of the second inning after one out, but failed to bring in a runner as subsequent hitters failed to hit.




Choi Hyung-woo's first three-run → KIA defeated NC to win the Winning Series
Choi Hyung-woo. Photo=KIA Tigers
NC had difficulty in targeting nails. None of the hits were recorded until the third inning. Meanwhile, KIA scored the first point.

The attack resumed after one out in the top of the third inning. Following Park Chan-ho's hit, Wisdom's double piled up runners. In the second and third base chances, Choi Hyung-woo hit Logan's slider at 3B1S and connected it with a three-run home run over the right fence. Distance 115M. With this home run, KIA took a 3-0 lead.

NC rarely scored points in the fourth inning as the second and fourth hitters stepped down due to a three-out offense. The same goes for the fifth episode. KIA starter Nail did not allow a single hit until the fifth inning. NC's only on-base hit was Park Min-woo's walkout strikeout and first base in the bottom of the first inning.




KIA failed to score an additional point in the top of the fifth inning when Choi Won-joon struck out in a chance with two outs and runners on the first and third bases, which was obtained with Wisdom's triple and Choi Hyung-woo's automatic four pitches.

Choi Hyung-woo's first three-run → KIA defeated NC to win the Winning Series
Wizdom. Photo=KIA Tigers
It was followed by a 3-0 score. At the bottom of the sixth inning, NC's first hit finally broke out. In the sixth inning with two outs and no runners, Kim Joo-won reported his first hit against Nail with a hit falling in front of right field. It's the moment when the nail's 'no hit' is broken. The nail was also shaken as Kwon Hee-dong, the next batter, was sent out with a ball that fit his body. However, he finished the sixth inning without losing a run while dealing with Park Min-woo's ground ball. NC was also blocked by a scoreless goal.

KIA finally scored an additional point by targeting the NC bullpen in the top of the seventh inning. Starting with pinch hitter Kim Kyu-sung's hit, Lee Chang-jin's sacrifice bunt success resulted in a one-out and second base. Park Chan-ho struck out not out, but Bae Jae-hwan's wild pitch allowed second baseman Kim Kyu-sung to reach third base.

Wisdom's walk to third base with one out. Bae Jae-hwan's wild pitch came out again, and third baseman Kim Kyu-sung scored. Choi Hyung-woo's intentional four-ball chance to get runners on first and second bases. The bases loaded with one out and another made with an opponent's wild pitch and a walk. Oh Sun-woo had to settle for an additional point as he stepped down with a fly ball to right field.

NC did not easily back down either. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Nail went down the mound with two outs and a first base chance, and pinch hitter Kim Hui-jip's home run broke against the changed pitcher Lee Joon-young. Kim Hwi-jip hit Lee Joon-young's 130-kilometer slider at the first pitch at perfect timing and connected it with a 125M two-run home run that flew well over the left fence.

Choi Hyung-woo's first three-run → KIA defeated NC to win the Winning Series
Cho Sang-woo. Photo=KIA Tigers
In KIA, Nail retired with one hit, nine strikeouts, two walks and one run in six ⅔ innings, and Cho Sang-woo took the mound as the third pitcher after Lee Joon-young failed to catch an out count and scored one run. Cho Sang-woo was on the verge of loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning after taking the mound in relief and allowing no runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, he managed to strike out and fly the center hitters leading to Park Gun-woo and Son Ah-seop, blocking the inning.

KIA, two points ahead, took the mound in the bottom of the last nine innings. Jung Hae-young gave up a walk to leadoff hitter Kim Hwi-jip, but he secured the team's victory without additional runs by catching the follow-up hitters with a mistake. Jung Hae-young earned his 17th save of the season.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.