Na Kyun-an wins comeback start, gives bonus to teammate
The Lotte Giants beat the Kiwoom Heroes 7-1 at Sajik Stadium in Busan on August 20. Na Kyun-an, returning to the mound for the first time in 21 days after skipping a start with neck stiffness, allowed just 1 run over 6 innings with 5 hits and 4 walks for a quality start, earning his 6th win of the season. Afterward, Na gave away his entire game MVP bonus to catcher Son Sung-bin. “I was able to get good results because Sung-bin led me well until the end,” he said. “This game reminded me once again how important a catcher’s guidance is.”
Source: OSEN
Released, then reborn: Lee Jeong-beom’s 3-RBI debut for KT
The KT Wiz crushed the LG Twins 16-4 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on August 20, keeping their hold on first place. Lee Jeong-beom, who signed with SK in 2017 but never secured a roster spot and was waived on June 30, hit .417 in the KBO Futures League after joining KT and was called up for this game. Starting as designated hitter, he went 1-for-4 with a walk and drove in a career-high 3 runs. “I’m happy that on my first day back in the majors we snapped the team’s losing streak and I came through in scoring chances,” Lee said. “I’m grateful to the manager for giving me a chance until the end of the game.”
Source: OSEN
Castro and Na Seong-beom combine for 6 RBIs in KIA win
The KIA Tigers beat the Hanwha Eagles 10-6 on the road at Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on August 20, sweeping the midweek series to extend their winning streak to five games and climb to third place for the first time this season. Castro and Na Seong-beom each drove in 3 runs, while Kim Tae-goon hit a decisive go-ahead two-run homer late in the game. Starter Hwang Dong-ha also held steady through 5 innings. Manager Lee Beom-ho said, “Kim Tae-goon’s go-ahead two-run homer led us to a dramatic win, and our middle order of Kim Do-young, Castro, and Na Seong-beom carried the offense well.”
Source: OSEN
SSG rallies from 4-1 down to win in Daegu
The SSG Landers came back to beat the Samsung Lions 6-4 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on August 20. Samsung had built a 4-1 lead behind Choi Hyung-woo’s two-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot from Lee Jae-hyun plus an RBI single from Choi Hyung-woo in the fifth. SSG began clawing back with a Kim Jae-hwan triple in the sixth, then closed to 3-4 in the seventh on a hit from Park Sung-han and an RBI single from Jeon Ui-san. Back-to-back doubles from Jo Hyung-woo and Oh Tae-gon tied it in the eighth, and a sacrifice fly from Choi Ji-hoon put SSG ahead, before Kim Jae-hwan’s solo homer in the ninth sealed it. Samsung lost the series in a painful home collapse.
Source: OSEN
Yang Eui-ji’s error leads to walk-off loss for Doosan
The NC Dinos beat the Doosan Bears 5-4 on a walk-off at NC Park in Changwon on August 20. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, catcher Yang Eui-ji and first baseman Park Ji-hoon miscommunicated on a foul pop-up from Cheon Jae-hwan, letting it drop for an error. Cheon followed immediately with a double, and after An Jung-yeol reached base and Kim Ju-won walked to load the bases with two outs, Kwon Hee-dong delivered the walk-off single. The single miscue cost Doosan the series sweep.
Source: OSEN