The Kia Tigers capitalized on an error in the bottom of the 10th inning of extra innings to secure the win.
KIA won 4-3 at home against the NC Dinos of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on April 19.
With the win, KIA remained in first place with 16 wins and 6 losses. NC remained in second place with 14 wins and 8 losses.
Kia’s starter Yang Hyun-jong pitched six innings of seven hits (one home run) and two runs with five strikeouts and no walks, but was left without a win. Jeong Jung-young pitched one scoreless inning in relief to earn the win.
For NC, Castano went seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits (one homer) with three walks and two strikeouts. Lee Yong-chan took the loss in relief, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in 0.2 innings.
NC struck first. In the top of the second inning, Kim Hyung-joon singled with runners on first and third, scoring Kwon Hee-dong from third base to give the team the lead.
Kia fired back with a cannon. In the bottom of the second inning, leadoff hitter Choi Hyung-woo was hit by a pitch, and Socrates hit a two-run home run to right-center field to make it a 2-1 game. Socrates’ second home run of the season.
NC responded with a home run of their own. In the top of the third inning, with the bases loaded, Son hit a four-pitch 133-kilometer slider from Yang Hyun-jong for a solo shot to tie the game. Son’s grand slam of the season.
Kia regained the lead after capitalizing on an opponent’s error. With the bases loaded, Kim Do-young singled to center field. Kim stole second and moved to third on Lee Woo-sung’s grounder to second base. Park Min-woo failed to field the throw, allowing Kim to score.
NC came up big again to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, leadoff hitter Oh Young-soo hit a 145-kilometer fastball from Jeon Sang-hyun for a solo shot to 스포츠토토 tie the game at 3-3. It was Oh’s second home run of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, KIA had a chance. Choi Hyung-woo led off with an infield single to shortstop. Socrates struck out, but Kim Sun-bin drew a 10-pitch walk to put runners on first and second with one out. NC sent Yong-chan Lee to the mound to close out the game, while KIA brought in pinch-hitter Go Jong-wook, who induced a 5-3 walk-off single to send the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, KIA sent out closer Jung Jung-young. Jung gave up a leadoff single and a walk, but got Kim Hyung-joon to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, KIA got a leadoff single from pinch-hitter Han Jun-soo, and Choi Won-joon drew a technical walk on an 0-2 count to put runners on first and second with no outs. Park Chan-ho then laid down a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Kim Hyung-joon threw to first base, but Oh Young-soo couldn’t make the throw at first and the play was safe. The official score was a throwing error by the catcher. Choi Won-joon then stole second and then third, and while the NC defense was worried about Choi, Han Jun-soo stole home to end the game.