Lee Bum-ho praises Hong Jong-pyo on ‘Hoseobi’
The KIA Tigers started June with a win.
Head coach Lee Bum-ho’s team improved to 35–121 (.625) on the season with a 4–2 victory over KT Wiz in the eighth game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on June 1. The win also marked the first time since June 11–12, 2011 against LG Electronics in Gunsan and June 17–19, 2011 against Samsung Electronics in Gwangju that the team has sold out five consecutive home games in 4730 days.
Starting pitcher James Nail was the key to the victory. Nail earned his seventh win of the season with seven innings, three hits, two walks, seven strikeouts and one unearned run (unearned). At the plate, Kim Do-young activated the home run machine for the second straight game, while Kim Sun-bin chipped in with three hits and two RBIs.
Kia gave KT the lead in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by Kim Sang-soo, but Kim tied the game at 1–1 in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Kim Sun-bin. In the bottom of the fifth, Kim Do-young, who led off the inning with a solo shot over the left field fence, tied the game.
Kia added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to widen the gap. With runners on second and third, Socrates Brito hit an RBI single, and the next batter, Kim Sun-bin, followed with an RBI single of his own.
There was also a crisis. In the top of the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and no outs, Choi Ji-min was called up by the KIA bench. This is where second baseman Hong Jong-pyo’s presence shined. In the top of the eighth inning, Hong Jong-pyo, who replaced Kim Sun-bin at second base, caught Oh Jae-il’s hit with his body. Shortstop Park Chan-ho, who received Hong’s throw to second base, completed the double play. Kia gave up one run, but minimized the damage with two outs.
Closer Jung Jung-young came on in the top of the ninth with his team leading 4–2 and was briefly shaken by a leadoff double by Hwang Jae-gyun. However, she retired KT’s bottom of the order of Choi Jae-dae, Shin Bon-ki, and Moon Sang-chul on a strikeout, ground ball, and groundout to end the game.
After the game, Lee said, “Neil was solid again today, pitching seven innings with minimal runs allowed. He managed his pitch count well. With the bases loaded in the top of the 메이저토토사이트 eighth inning, Jeon Sang-hyun induced a bases-loaded walk to get out of the jam, and Jeong Jung-young relieved well to secure the win.”
“On offense, Kim Sun-bin did a great job with the tying and go-ahead hits, and Kim Do-young hit the game-winning home run to change the momentum. Socrates’ RBI also came at a crucial time.”
There was another player the manager mentioned, Hong Jong-pyo. “It was a game that showed how important defense is,” Lee said. “Without Hong Jong-pyo’s late-game catch, we wouldn’t have been able to win today. It was a great defense that saved the team from the crisis.”
“We are grateful for the full house for the weekend and are happy to reward them with a win,” said Lee, adding, “We are determined to play well tomorrow as we had a good start to June.”
Kia will start Yoon Young-cheol in the second game of the day, looking for a second straight win and a sweep of the series. KT’s starting pitcher will be William Cuevas.
