How KIA Tigers Secured a 3-1 Victory Against Lotte Giants: Game Highlights and Analysis
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The KIA Tigers wore down the Lotte Giants late, rallying for a 3-1 comeback on May 9 at Busan’s Sajik Stadium in the 2026 KBO League. The win extended KIA’s winning streak against Lotte to four games this season.
Lotte struck first. In the fourth inning, Victor Reyes ripped a double into the left-center gap, and after Ko Seung-min’s single, Na Seung-yeop followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0.
KIA had trouble against Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook, leaving a runner at second with two outs in the third and failing to cash in another two-out opportunity in the sixth. Kim Ho-ryeong changed the tone in the seventh: with one out and the bases empty, he launched a 135m (443 ft) left-field solo homer to tie the game 1-1.
The decisive moment came in the eighth. Leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun reached on a bunt single, stole second and took third when Lotte’s third baseman threw to first on a grounder by Kim Sun-bin. Lotte intentionally walked Kim Do-young to face Aderlin Rodriguez, but Rodriguez delivered an RBI single to left, giving KIA a 2-1 lead.
The hit was significant for Rodriguez — his first four KBO hits had all been home runs, and this was his first single, which produced the go-ahead RBI.
KIA added an insurance run in the ninth when doubles by Kim Ho-ryeong and Park Min produced another run, making it 3-1. Jeong Hae-young, who entered in the seventh, worked two perfect innings to pick up the win.
Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook tossed 7 1/3 innings and allowed two runs but received little run support and was charged with the loss.
Photo = Provided by the KIA Tigers / Yonhap News Agencyn
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