A high-scoring game went to the Kiwoom Heroes on Thursday, defeating the hosting Lotte Giants 11-6. The game saw a close score lead by the Heroes early, with the team pulling ahead for good in the fourth inning.
The loss for the Giants continued their week-long homestretch of games from the Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan, South Korea.
Teams Exchange Runs For First Third of The Game
The Heroes were able to maintain a one-run lead through the early innings, as they got ahead early in the first inning with a solo home run from Kim Ha-seong.
In the next inning, Byeon Sang-kwon drove home the second run for the Wyverns. Later in the second inning, Giants player Kim Joon-tae got a hit, allowing a runner to get home and make the game 2-1.
In the third inning, Addison Russell picked up an RBI after taking in a runner off of a hit. Answering back again for the Giants, Heo Il drove home a runner in the third inning.
Heroes Take Game Out of Reach
The biggest inning in the game for the Heroes was the fourth, scoring five runs to pull ahead to a lead that the Giants never came close to overtaking. The rally of at-bats saw the entire lineup come to the plate for the Heroes. Scoring two runs each off of hits was Byeon Sang-kwon and Russell, with Kim Ha-seong batting in a run as well. The team had an 8-2 lead following the top of the fourth inning.
Shortening the lead, Giants player Son Ah-seop picked up an RBI later in the inning.
Noh Given Fifth Loss In 2020
An inning later, Giants starter Noh Kyung-eun was taken out of play. Being given his fifth loss of the season, Noh’s record moved to 4-5.
The win for the game went to Im Gyu-bin, who appeared in the third and fourth inning for the Heroes. Kim Tae-hoon pitched the first two innings, although he had a short stint as the pitcher usually plays in a reliever position.
Heroes Put Down Insurance Runs
The Heroes further moved their lead in the seventh inning after solo home runs from Heo Jeong-hyeop and Jeon Byung-woo. The runs came against Oh Hyun-taek, who was taken out of the game before the end of the inning.
The team was able to tack their last run down in the ninth, as Kim Gyu-min batted in a runner.
Late Runs Not Enough For Giants
A late push of runs came from the Giants in the ninth inning, although it was not enough to make the game close. Hits from Shin Yong-su and An Chi-hong scored three runs, making the game 11-6. Playing the entire inning, closer Park Seung-joo was able to survive past the runs and finish the inning with a strikeout.
Giants Risk Dropping Below Tigers
While they did not lose their sixth-place KBO spot on Thursday, the Giants sit only half-a-game ahead of the Kia Tigers, who have a record of 46-44.
The Giants will host the Heroes one more time this week before kicking off a two-game series against the Hanhwa Eagles. Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:30PM KST (5:30AM EDT).
Around The KBO
The LG Twins won a shutout 2-0 game over the KT Wiz lead by starting pitcher Kim Yun-sik, who allowed only two hits through six innings.
In his longest appearance of the year, starter Chad Bell pitched seven scoreless innings for the Hanwha Eagles, who defeated the Samsung Lions 7-0.
The SK Wyverns earned a win on Thursday, defeating the Kia Tigers 10-4.
Scoring four runs in the first inning, the NC Dinos got ahead early and maintained their success to the end, defeating the Doosan Bears 8-2.
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