Another win.
The Kia Tigers came from behind to win 5-2 against the Gwangju Hanwha Eagles on Sunday. The Tigers swept a three-game weekend series with Hanwha and won four straight. The power advantage was evident. It’s a steep climb to seven wins in their last 10 games.
Early on, they fell victim to Hanwha starter Moon Dong-ju (20). Nine batters were retired on consecutive singles in the first through third innings. Moon struck out nine on 30 pitches.
But the KIA bats were strong. Trailing 0-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, they quickly tied the game. With the bases loaded, Kim Sun-bin hit a double to left field. Moon took advantage of Dong-joo Moon’s first-pitch slider to change the game.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, tied 2-2, the tide turned.
Kim Do-young, the leadoff hitter, opened the inning with a single to right. It was his first hit in two games and six at-bats against classmate and rival Moon Dong-joo. Then, No. 3 Na Sung-beom singled to right to put runners on first and second. Choi Hyung-woo, the No. 4 hitter, followed with a two-run double to left center. It was a 4-2 victory, pulling Moon Dong-ju off the mound. KIA메이저놀이터
added a run on a sacrifice fly in the ensuing scoring chances.
Moon suffered his eighth loss of the season after allowing five runs in five innings.
Moon and Rookie of the Year contender Yoon Young-cheol pitched four innings and allowed two runs (one earned). Yoon gave up a solo home run to left field to Kim Tae-yeon in the first inning. He loaded the bases with one out in the second inning on four pitches and an infield error, but got out of the inning unscathed.
Moon gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in 5⅓ innings against the Gwangju KIA on Aug. 6. In the first game against Kim Do-young, he went 2-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. In the second game, Kim went 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, one walk, and two runs scored against Moon Dong-joo. It was a decisive victory.
Moon had pitched a total of 114⅓ innings by the end of the day. He has one game left on his schedule.