Translation result
[Sports Seoul | Sajik = Kang Yoon-sik] Kiwoom edged Lotte 6-5 at Sajik Stadium in Busan on April 29 in a 2026 KBO regular-season game. An Chi-hong, 36, collected three hits, including a solo homer, and Kiwoom’s bullpen surrendered just one run over 5 2/3 innings to secure the win.
Kiwoom avenged the previous day’s loss in extra innings and pushed its gap over 10th-place Lotte to two games.
An Chi-hong was the story early. He put Kiwoom ahead with a towering shot in the top of the first and finished the night with three hits. Lim Byung-wook contributed with two hits (one homer), two RBIs and a run.
Kiwoom struck first. With two outs in the top of the first, An squared up Rodriguez’s low sweeper and sent a solo shot over the left-field wall to give his team an early lead.
Lotte answered in the bottom of the second. Leadoff hitter Yoon Dong-hee recorded a hit in his return to the first team. After Yoo Kang-nam struck out, Jeon Min-jae—who had three hits the day before—delivered a deep double down the left-field line to bring Yoon home and knot the score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Yoon drew a leadoff walk and Yoo followed with a double into center-right. Yoon raced home to give Lotte a 2-1 advantage.
Kiwoom regained the lead in the top of the fifth with another homer. After Im Ji-yeol worked an eight-pitch at-bat and drew a walk, Choi Joo-hwan popped out to short. Lim then took advantage, crushing Rodriguez’s 85 mph (137 km/h) changeup for a two-run blast to put Kiwoom up 3-2.
Trailing, Lotte manufactured a chance in the bottom of the seventh. Leadoff batter Jang Du-seong reached on a hit by pitch, and Victor Reyes’ single put runners on first and third with nobody out. They couldn’t drive a big hit — No Jin-hyuk hit into a double play, but Jang scored from third to tie it 3-3.
The game swung in the top of the eighth. With one out and the bases loaded, Kim Ji-seok hit a grounder to the pitcher. Opposing hurler Hyun Do-hoon mishandled the return throw to the plate—the ball got away and two runners scored, sending Kiwoom back ahead, 5-3.
But Lotte responded in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and a runner on first, Park Seung-wook belted a two-run homer to tie the game, forcing extra innings. In the top of the 11th, Kiwoom had a one-out, runner-on-third opportunity. Oh Sun-jin executed a squeeze, and third-base runner Song Ji-ho crossed the plate to make it 6-5. That proved to be the game-winner as Kiwoom held on for the victory. skywalker@sportsseoul.com
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