Baseball
Baseball
KIA’s Offense Powers Third Straight Win, Manager Lee Sets Club Record
The KIA Tigers secured their third consecutive victory on May 19th, defeating SSG 9-5 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. This win elevated the Tigers to a 48-2-40 record, solidifying their hold on fourth place in the league standings, and allowed them to close out their four-game road series with three wins and one loss. The outcome also marked a significant milestone for manager Lee Beom-ho, who achieved his 200th career win in his 378th game, making him the youngest and fastest manager to reach this benchmark in club history.
KIA’s offensive firepower was on full display. Kim Ho-ryeong delivered a crucial two-run single in the eighth inning with two outs and runners on second and third, breaking a 5-5 tie. Following this, foreign hitter Castro sealed the victory with a two-run home run. Castro finished the game with three hits, including a home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs, while Kim Ho-ryeong contributed a hit, two runs, and two RBIs. Na Sung-bum also made his presence felt early, launching a three-run homer in the third inning, and Kim Do-yeong added an RBI double in the seventh to tie the game.
The game was a back-and-forth affair. KIA initially took a 4-1 lead in the third inning, but SSG rallied in the sixth, with Kim Jae-hwan hitting a three-run homer and Choi Ji-hoon following with a solo shot to put SSG ahead 5-4. However, SSG’s veteran lineup faced challenges, as Oh Tae-gon was removed from the active roster due to back pain on the same day, just two days after star hitter Choi Jeong was also sidelined with pelvic pain. SSG’s leadoff hitters, Jeong Jun-jae and Park Seong-han, struggled, going hitless in a combined nine at-bats.
KIA’s fourth pitcher, Jeon Sang-hyun, earned the win after a third of an inning of scoreless relief. Manager Lee Beom-ho acknowledged the contributions of his players and coaching staff, expressing gratitude for their efforts in reaching his 200th victory.
Sources
