Doosan Bears secured a narrow 5-4 victory over the KIA Tigers on April 18 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, with starter Lee Yu-chan delivering a gritty performance despite allowing key hits. The win highlighted Doosan’s resilience amid KIA’s multiple scoring threats.
Starting Lineups
Doosan deployed Park Chan-ho as starting pitcher, followed by Son A-seop in right field, Park Jun-seon at second base, Yang Ui-ji catching, Kim Min-seok as designated hitter, Dajuan Cameron at designated hitter position, Kang Sung-ho in left field, Park Ji-hoon at third base, and Jeong Su-bin in center field.
KIA countered with Jerry Deil on the mound, Kim Ho-ryeong in center field, Kim Do-yeong at third base, Harold Castro as designated hitter, Na Seong-beom at designated hitter spot, Han Jun-su catching, Park Min at second base, Kim Gyu-seong in left field, and Park Jae-hyun in right field. Utility player Shim Ga-eun started at first base for Doosan.
Early Innings and Pitching Duels
Doosan’s offense remained quiet through four innings against Deil. In the fifth, Lee Yu-chan surrendered four runs on two hits but escaped further damage in the sixth. Over 6 2/3 innings, he threw 88 pitches, allowing six hits—including two home runs—four walks, and two strikeouts to limit the crisis.
KIA drew first blood with single runs in the first and third innings before exploding for four in the sixth. Kim Beom-su delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh, pushing across another run. Deil lasted six innings, yielding three runs on five hits, four walks, and two strikeouts (one intentional).
Key Scoring Plays
Doosan struck first in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter Park Chan-ho scored on Son A-seop’s hit. Son A-seop and Park Jun-seon added doubles and a triple, but Park Chan-ho grounded out with the bases loaded. Yang Ui-ji’s double was caught by the center fielder, stranding Park Chan-ho at home.
In the fourth, Son A-seop ripped a two-run homer off Deil’s sharp-breaking pitch for a 2-0 lead. KIA responded in the fifth with Na Seong-beom’s full-count homer and Park Min’s deep fly scoring another run, tying it at 2-2.
Late-Game Drama
The eighth saw KIA load the bases after Kim Ho-ryeong’s sharp two-run double, but Kim Do-yeong struck out on Kim Tae-gyeon’s 148 km/h fastball. Yang Ui-ji’s solo homer and Kang Sung-ho’s RBI single pulled Doosan within one at 4-2, but Jeong Su-bin flew out.
In the ninth, KIA threatened again with Park Min’s homer off a hanging slider from Kim Ho-ryeong, but Park Jae-hyun struck out. Doosan rallied in the bottom half as Kim Do-yeong’s homer and Park Jeong-woo’s hit loaded the bases. Reliever Na Seong-beom walked in the go-ahead run, but Han Jun-su’s precise throw tagged a runner.
Doosan closer Kim Min-seok worked a perfect eighth, while Lee Yu-chan induced a double play in relief during the ninth to seal the win. The Bears capitalized on their opportunities to extend their streak.
