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| Kim Do-young / Photo = Paeng Hyun-jun |
KIA defeated LG 7-2 on March 31 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League road game.
The victory moved KIA to 1-2 and into seventh place. LG fell to 0-3 and sat in a tie for eighth with the Samsung Lions and the Kiwoom Heroes.
KIA starter Oller was dominant, throwing six scoreless innings while allowing three hits, one walk and striking out three to earn the win.
At the plate, Kim Do-young stole the show, going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBIs, one run scored and a walk.
LG starter Tolhurst struggled, giving up seven runs on nine hits (including a home run) over three innings with one walk and five strikeouts, taking the loss.
KIA struck first. In the top of the first with one out, Castro doubled to right. Kim Do-young followed with an RBI single to center-right, scoring Castro and putting KIA up 1-0.
KIA then blew the game open in the second. With two outs and runners on first and third, Kim Ho-ryung delivered an RBI single to right, and Castro ripped a two-run double to extend the lead.
With two outs and a runner on second, Kim Do-young jumped on Tolhurst’s second pitch — a 137 km/h cutter — and cleared the left-field wall for a two-run homer. KIA scored five runs in the second inning and led 6-0.
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| KIA players / Photo = Paeng Hyun-jun |
Held scoreless through six innings, LG finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung battled reliever Hong Min-gyu to a nine-pitch full count and drew a walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Lee Jae-won grounded out, but Lee Joo-heon’s single to left put runners at the corners with one out. On Oh Ji-hwan’s infield grounder, pinch-runner Lee Young-bin scored, cutting the deficit to 7-1. Chun Seong-ho then drew a walk to bring up a 2-out, first-and-second chance, and Choi Won-young singled to right on the first pitch to make it 7-2.
That would be as close as LG got. KIA protected the five-run lead and turned to closer Seong Yeong-tak in the ninth. Seong retired Lee Jae-won, Lee Joo-heon and Oh Ji-hwan in order to seal a 7-2 victory.
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| SSG players / Photo = DB |
SSG improved to 3-0 to open the season and sat tied with the KT Wiz for first place.
Kiwoom dropped to 0-3 and remained tied for eighth.
SSG starter Veniziano went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts and departed without a decision. Reliever Lee Ro-woon worked 0.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout to pick up the win.
Kiwoom starter Wiles took the loss after six innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits, including a home run, with four strikeouts.
The NC Dinos also beat the Lotte Giants 9-2.
NC improved to 2-1 and sat in a three-way tie for third with the Lotte Giants and the Hanwha Eagles.
NC starter Toda earned the win, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on three hits while issuing four walks and striking out four.
Lotte starter Park Se-woong took the loss after five innings, giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
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| Jack Log / Photo = DB |
Doosan sits at 1-1-1 in sixth place, while Samsung is 0-1-2 and tied for eighth.
Doosan starter Jack Log delivered seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits (one home run) with one walk and five strikeouts, but did not factor into the decision.
Samsung starter O'Raclin lasted 3.2 innings, giving up four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts, but the offense provided enough support to avoid the loss.
The KT Wiz downed the Hanwha Eagles 9-4.
The win tied KT with SSG atop the standings, while Hanwha remained in a tie for third with NC.
KT starter Boshilly earned the victory, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing five hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Hanwha starter White took the loss after allowing one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 2.1 innings.
[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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