The Kia Tigers swept a three-game weekend sweep to extend their winning streak to eight games for the first time in two years. They ended the week on a high note, moving from fifth to sole possession of fourth place.

The Tigers won their 13th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against SSG Landers 8-6 on Wednesday at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. It was the team’s eighth straight win in 751 days since August 13, 2021.

KIA’s starting pitcher Lee Yi-ri struggled on the day, giving up four runs on two hits, three walks and four strikeouts in three innings, but the bats came through. Both veterans and young players showed off their batting prowess side by side.

Leadoff hitter Park Chan-ho was the sparkplug of the offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, one run scored and one walk. Kim Do-young, the No. 2 hitter, also went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, one stolen base and two walks.

Choi Hyung-woo made his presence felt with a leadoff double in the first inning, while Kim Sun-bin went 4-for-3 with a double, one stolen base and one run scored, Hwang Dae-in went 4-for-2 with a double, one home run, two RBIs and one run scored, Kim Tae-gun went 4-for-2 with a double and one RBI, and Ko Jong-wook went 1-for-1 with a double and one RBI.

Trailing 5-6 in the top of the eighth inning, KIA rallied for a 7-6 win on back-to-back RBI singles by Kim Tae-gun and Ko Jong-wook with runners on first and second. In the top of the ninth, leadoff hitter Kim Do-young hit a solo home run to drive in the winning run and extend the winning streak to eight games.

In the bottom of the ninth, closer Jung Hae-young ended SSG’s last stand with a clean triple play. She got leadoff hitter Han Yoo-seom to fly out to center, struck out Choo Shin-soo, and got pinch-hitter Choi Ji-hoon to ground into an infield single to preserve KIA’s eighth straight win.

With the win, KIA improved to 56 wins, 50 losses and two ties on the season, leapfrogging the NC Dinos from fifth to fourth place in the standings. The second-half surge makes the race for third through fifth place even more interesting.

Coach Kim Jong-guk said after the game, “I would like to praise the players for their strong concentration. The game was tense at the beginning of the game, and it became a tough game when we allowed the reverse in the fifth inning, but in the top of the eighth inning, Kim Tae-gun hit a valuable tying hit in a chance after one out,” and expressed satisfaction that Go Jong-wook, who came in as a substitute, made the winning run as expected by the coach.

“In the ninth inning, with a precarious one-run lead, Kim Do-young hit a solo home run to extend our winning streak,” he said. “Park Chan-ho created a lot of chances as a leadoff hitter, and Kim Sun-bin also showed good form with a three-hit game.” He also praised the pitchers.먹튀검증

He also encouraged the pitchers. “Our starter Lee Yi-ri went off the mound early due to pitching anxiety, but all the pitchers who came in afterward did their job,” said Kim Jong-guk, “especially Lim Ki-young, who came in from a one-run lead, and Jung Hae-young, who had her first save opportunity in a long time, perfectly secured the win for the team.”