The Tiger Corps achieved back-to-back victories in the exhibition games, spearheaded by the strong performance of new foreign pitcher Adam Oller and champion-like concentration in high-stakes situations.
The KIA Tigers won 4-1 against the Doosan Bears in an exhibition game held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on the 13th.
KIA improved to 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, achieving a .500 win rate with back-to-back victories in the exhibition games. In contrast, Doosan, which had opened the exhibition season with three consecutive victories, has now fallen to 3 wins and 2 losses.
On their away trip, KIA fielded a starting lineup against Doosan's starting pitcher Kwak Bin that included Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Noh Sung-bum (right fielder), Patrick Wisdom (first baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Kim Tae-gun (catcher), and Lee Woo-sung (left fielder). Kim Do-young, who had been resting due to discomfort on the 10th and 11th in a two-game series against the NC Dinos, returned from injury.
In response, Doosan faced KIA's starting pitcher Adam Oller with a lineup that included Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Jake Cave (right fielder), Kang Seung-ho (third baseman), Yang Seok-hwan (first baseman), Oh Myung-jin (second baseman), Park Jun-young (shortstop), and Jung Soo-bin (center fielder).
Both teams regrettably missed scoring opportunities that came in the first inning. KIA had two outs when Kim Do-young drew a walk, and Noh Sung-bum hit a single to right, putting runners on first and third. However, Wisdom struck out looking on a three-pitch strikeout, and Doosan, with walks issued to Kim Jae-hwan and Cave, along with a wild pitch, found themselves in a two-out, one on third and one on first situation but Kang Seung-ho was retired on a popup to second base.
The first run was claimed by KIA. In the top of the third inning, lead-off hitter Park Chan-ho capitalized on Kwak Bin's first pitch and hit a single. After Choi Won-jun flew out to center, Kim Do-young used his speed to reach on an infield single past the shortstop, and Noh Sung-bum followed with a timely hit to center that brought in one run. However, the continued chances with one out and runners on first and second were squandered when Wisdom popped out to short, and Choi Hyung-woo flew out to left.
Doosan, which missed a chance in the bottom of the third with two outs and runners on first and second, leveled the score in the bottom of the fifth. Park Jun-young led off with a home run off the new pitcher Kim Dae-yu. After watching the first pitch for a ball, he launched a low sinker (136 km/h) for a 120-meter home run to the left field. This was Park Jun-young's first home run of the exhibition season after five games.
KIA's lineup surged again in the top of the sixth inning against Choi Jun-ho. Lead-off hitter Wisdom and Kim Sun-bin both singled, and Kim Tae-gun drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Lee Woo-sung then hit a ground ball toward third base, but after video review, it was ruled a fielder's choice, 5 (third baseman)-4 (second baseman)-3 (first baseman) double play. The force out at second was called out, but the first base collision was reversed from out to safe. As a result, Lee Woo-sung was credited with an RBI, and Wisdom's substitute Hong Jong-pyo scored.
KIA continued its momentum in the top of the seventh with a lead-off hit from Choi Won-jun and a stolen base to create an opportunity. Following that, Park Jeong-woo and Choi Hyung-woo's substitute Han Jun-soo drew walks, loading the bases with two outs, and Byeon Woo-hyeok hit a two-RBI single to center off the new pitcher Choi Jong-in. It was the clinching hit of the day.
KIA's starting pitcher Adam Oller delivered a solid performance over 4 innings, allowing 2 hits, 3 walks, striking out 1, and not allowing any runs on 62 pitches. He incorporated fastballs reaching up to 152 km/h (32 pitches) along with sliders (10 pitches), curveballs (8 pitches), cutters (6 pitches), and changeups (6 pitches). He was followed by Kim Dae-yu (1 inning, 1 run), Lim Gi-young (1 inning, no runs), Jeon Sang-hyun (1 inning, no runs), Kwak Do-kyu (1 inning, no runs), and Jung Hae-young (1 inning, no runs).
Doosan's starting pitcher Kwak Bin threw 3 innings, conceding 4 hits, 2 walks, striking out 3, and allowing 1 run on 57 pitches. He was followed by Park Jeong-soo (1 inning, no runs), Kim Ho-jun (1 inning, no runs), Choi Jun-ho (1 and 2/3 innings, 3 runs), Choi Jong-in (1/3 inning, no runs), Lee Byeong-heon (1 inning, no runs), and Kim Taek-yeon (1 inning, no runs) checking their form.
The two teams will meet again for the second exhibition matchup at the same location on the 14th.
Meanwhile, despite it being a weekday, about 8,000 spectators filled the baseball stadium, creating an atmosphere of support akin to that of the regular season.
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