The KIA Tigers' bullpen collapsed. Far from a one-run game, they suffered heavy runs and fell into a four-game losing streak.
KIA lost 3-8 to the KT Wiz in an away game at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League on the 22nd. Starter James Neill pitched five innings allowing two runs but did not get the win, and with Kim Beom-Su and Jo Sang-woo collapsing in the bottom of the seventh, KIA's losing streak lengthened.
Through the fifth inning, KIA batters were silent against KT starter Matt Sauer's strong outing. In the top of the sixth, Dale broke the silence with a solo home run, and in the top of the seventh it seemed the momentum had shifted to KIA as KT's bullpen came in to relieve Sauer and issued nothing but walks.
But there was a twist. Neill had held them to one run through five innings, and in the bottom of the sixth, closer Jung Hae-young, who joined the first team that day, came in and retired the side in one scoreless inning.
Jung Hae-young hit Han Seung-taek with a pitch and gave up a single to right to Choi Won-joon, creating a 2-out, runners on first and second threat, but he escaped the inning without allowing a run. After KIA took the lead in the top of the seventh, it seemed they had seized the momentum.
KIA brought in Kim Beom-Su in the bottom of the seventh. They turned to their most trusted relievers to protect a one-run lead. But it did not go as planned.
Kim Beom-Su gave up an infield single toward the shortstop to the first batter, Kim Hyun-soo. He then issued a walk to Jang Sung-woo. Catcher Han Seung-taek tried to calm Kim Beom-Su, but it was to no avail. After getting Hilliard on a grounder to first, he faced a 1-out, runners on second and third threat and then got Kim Sang-su to fly out to shortstop.
After walking Oh Yun-seok with an intentional walk, in the bases-loaded threat he gave up an infield single to Han Seung-taek toward third base, bringing the game back to even. A sharply hit grounder struck Kim Do-young's glove. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kim Do-young missed the ball, and in the meantime third-base runner Kim Hyun-soo crossed home plate.
Jo Sang-woo, who came in to relieve Kim Beom-Su, gave up a two-run RBI hit to KT rookie Lee Kang-min. He then allowed an RBI single to Choi Won-joon. KIA made another change, bringing in Han Jae-seung, but he gave up a two-run RBI single to Kim Min-hyuk, extending the losing streak to four games.<
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