KIA, which saved one chance, scored 2 points, '2nd full base → 0 points' KT...There's bound to be mixed feelings

Aug 06, 2024

◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers

It was a game that was decided in terms of concentration in a chance situation.

KIA Tigers got off to a good start after beating KT Wiz in the first game of the three consecutive games during the week. KIA beat KT 2-0 at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 6th. He scored the first run with Choi Hyung-woo's triple with two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the first inning, and held on to the end of the seventh inning with one out and runners on second and third bases. KT bowed its head to a defeat in the helplessness of the lineup even though starter Ko Young-pyo pitched two runs in six ⅔ innings.

KIA won the first point. With Kim Do-young walking after two outs, Choi Hyung-woo's big hit to Ko Young-pyo passed the height of the center fielder's allocation team. Kim Do-young homered leisurely, and Choi Hyung-woo settled on third base, bringing KIA to a 1-0 lead.

◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers

KT failed to score despite creating numerous chances against KIA starter Kim Do-hyun.

Rojas' hit and Kang Baek-ho's pitch in the top of the third inning with one out and a runner on the first base gave him a chance to load the bases. However, Jang Sung-woo ended up with a fly ball, and Moon Sang-chul also failed to turn the tables as he grounded out to shortstop. In the top of the fourth inning, Kim Min-hyuk and Hwang Jae-gyun's consecutive hits and Shim Woo-joon's walk gave him a chance to load the bases with two outs, but Rojas only made a fly ball. In the top of the fifth inning, Moon Sang-chul's walk and Kim Sang-soo's left-center hit made it two outs and runners on first and third, but Kim Min-hyuk struck out.

◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers

With KIA running the bullpen from the sixth inning, KT was also blocked by Jung Hae-young Kwak Do-kyu in the top of the sixth inning, failing to take advantage of the leadoff batter's on-base chance. In the top of the seventh inning, Kang Baek-ho got on base due to a shortstop error, and Jang Sung-woo made a heavy hit to KIA Jang Hyun-sik, who took the mound in relief, and took the opportunity to turn around again. However, Kang Baek-ho, who was rushing home when pinch hitter Cho Yong-ho grounded out, was out after a rundown, and Kim Sang-soo and Kim Min-hyuk were unable to bring in runners on the second and third bases with one out.

◇photo courtesy of the KIA Tigers

In the end, KIA made an extra point. Following Kim Sun-bin's hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, Seo Geon-chang's grounder to the pitcher led to a throw to the second base, but it was an error that fell back, creating a situation with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. With runners on base due to Ko Young-pyo's wild pitch, Park Chan-ho only grounded out, and the chance seemed to be eliminated. However, KIA succeeded in widening the gap to 2-0 with Hong Jong-pyo, who played as Kim Sun-bin's pinch runner when Socrates grounded out to the first base with one out and runners on the second and third bases.

KT met with KIA Jang Hyun-sik in the top of the eighth inning, and after two outs, Shim Woo-joon's walk and Rojas' infield hit made it a chance to turn the tables again. However, Kang Baek-ho struck out Lee Joon-young, who took the mound in relief. In the last attack in the top of the ninth inning, he was blocked by KIA Jeon Sang-hyun.

On this day, KT had nine hits and four walks against the KIA mound, but ended up scoreless. KIA, which had only five hits and three walks, won with two points, which could have felt lucky.

ppark@sportschosun.com

KIA, which saved one chance, scored 2 points, '2nd full base → 0 points' KT...There's bound to be mixed feelings

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