In a thrilling comeback at Busan Sajik Stadium, the KIA Tigers defeated the Lotte Giants 3-1 on Thursday, securing their third straight victory and improving to 17 wins in the season.
Key Moments in the Rally
The Tigers trailed 0-1 through six innings against Lotte starter James Naile. In the top of the seventh, Kim Ho-ryeong launched a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.
KIA took the lead in the eighth. Park Jae-hyeon led off with a bunt single and stole second base. After Kim Seon-bin’s grounder advanced him to third, Kim Do-yeong drew an intentional walk. Aaron Adell then delivered an RBI single, putting the Tigers ahead 2-1.
The Tigers added insurance in the ninth. Kim Ho-ryeong doubled, Kim Tae-gun sacrificed him to third, and Park Min ripped an RBI double to make it 3-1.
Jeong Hae-yeong’s Stellar Outing
Starter Jeong Hae-yeong earned the win, allowing just one run over six innings against Naile’s strong effort. Jeong struck out six and minimized damage despite two Lotte errors. Reliever Sung Yeong-tak closed it out with a scoreless ninth for his fourth save, while Jeong notched his second win of the season.
Jeong, who recently returned from rehab where he pitched scoreless ball over seven Futures League games, impressed with multi-inning relief work. The KIA manager praised him, stating, “Jeong showed ace qualities by overcoming Lotte starter Naile’s strong performance up to the previous game. He minimized runs even in crises and displayed his true form. We expect another gem in his next start.”
Manager and Teammate Praise
The manager highlighted Jeong’s essential role, saying, “Jeong Hae-yeong is a crucial pitcher for multi-inning relief alongside Sung Yeong-tak, who has taken on a huge load. They made a massive impact in games without errors.”
Catcher Park Soo lauded Kim Ho-ryeong’s contributions, noting, “Kim Ho-ryeong’s performance stood out from the dugout. His home run was the game’s turning point, and timely hits from Adell and Park Min were vital.”
To fans, the manager added, “Such moments give our players extra motivation. Fans are grateful too. We aim to deliver another strong performance in tomorrow’s game.”
KIA faces Lotte again on Friday, with Park Se-woong expected on the mound for the Giants.
