‘Smashing the first battle’ KIA defeated LG for two days in a row and won 2 consecutive semi-PO wins… 1 win ahead

(Seoul, Jeonnam Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporters Cheon Byeong-hyuk and Jang Hyeon-gu = KIA Tigers are on the verge of advancing to the playoffs (PO).

In the second game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO semi-playoffs (semi-PO, 3 wins out of 5) held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do on the 18th, KIA won 6-3 with the team's batting line showing concentration amid good pitching by starter Adam Ohler.

KIA, who swept the 1st and 2nd games in front of their home fans, only needs to win one more game in the remaining 3rd to 5th games to advance to the playoffs.

In the previous 5-game, 3-win semi-playoffs, the team that won both games 1 and 2 advanced to the playoffs 7 out of 9 times, recording a 77.8% probability of winning the series.

As soon as the second game started, the joys and sorrows of both teams were divided.

KIA's starting pitcher got off to a fresh start with a three-way retirement in the top of the first inning, but LG Lim Chan-gyu collapsed after being criticized.

For KIA, with one out in the bottom of the first inning, Jae-Hyun Park hit a single to left, and Do-Young Kim, the follow-up batter, walked.

KIA took the lead with Harold Castro hitting a right-handed hit with one out and runners on first and second base, and Na Seong-beom, Kim Sun-bin, and Han Jun-su added four runs with three consecutive doubles to run away with a 5-0 lead.

Then, when Ha Joo-seok hit a right-handed hit, LG forced Lim Chan-gyu early and quickly brought in John Kennedy to prevent additional runs.

LG made up 1 point in the top of the 3rd inning when Park Dong-won hit a double and Koo Bon-hyuk hit a timely hit in the middle.

With 2 outs and runners on first and second base, Austin Dean was at bat, but first base runner Haemin Park was out in the catcher's ball and missed the opportunity to score additional points.

In the top of the 5th inning, with 2 outs, LG scored 1 run on Park Hae-min's heavy hit to trail 2-5.

KIA, who had been quiet, scored a runaway score in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Jae-Hyun Park, who hit a double, advanced one base each when Do-Young Kim and Seong-Beom Na hit an outfield fly, making it 6-2.

LG scored one run in the top of the 8th inning thanks to Moon Jeong-bin's missed hit, but was unable to chase any further.

KIA Jeon Sang-hyun, who took the mound in relief in the top of the 8th inning with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base, recorded 4 outs and saved 2 consecutive games.

KIA's starting pitcher became the winning pitcher by striking out 8 batters and allowing 6 hits and 2 runs until the 6th inning.

On the other hand, LG Lim Chan-gyu, who was tied for the most wins in the regular season, was punished after allowing 5 runs with 6 hits and 1 walk in just ⅓ innings.

KIA, who had 6 hits in the first inning alone, tied for the most hits in a semi-PO inning.

KIA, who hit 5 consecutive hits and got 7 batters on base in a row, tied for the most consecutive semi-PO hits and the most consecutive on-base hits of all time.

Additionally, KIA's 5 points in the bottom of the first inning is a tie for the most points scored in the bottom of the first inning in the postseason.

On this day, 18,900 people entered Kia Champions Field, bringing the cumulative attendance of this postseason to 61,450.

Fall baseball has sold out 40 consecutive games, starting with Game 1 of the 2023 Korean Series.

With KIA taking the lead in the semi-PO, LG will take a day off and aim for a counterattack in the third game to be held at their home, Jamsil Stadium, on the 20th.