KIA Tigers head coach Kim Jong-kook praised his players’ focus after the team’s eighth straight win and leap to fourth place in the standings.

KIA won 8-6 against SSG at Landers Field in Incheon on March 3. Starter Lee Yi-ri was pulled early after giving up four runs in three innings, but the bullpen kept SSG’s offense to a minimum. Trailing 5-6 in the eighth inning, Kim Tae-gun’s tying RBI single, pinch-hitter Ko Jong-wook’s game-winning RBI single, and Kim Do-young’s RBI single in the ninth inning sealed the victory. With the win, KIA improved to 56-2 and 50-50 on the season and moved into a tie for fourth place with the NC Dinos (57-2 and 51), who lost to the Samsung Lions.

Coach Kim said after the game, “I praise the players for their strong concentration. The game was tightly contested at the beginning of the game, but we gave up the lead in the fifth inning, which made it a tough game. However, in the top of the eighth inning, Kim Tae-gun hit a valuable tying run, and Koh Jong-wook, who came in as a pinch hitter, 바카라 delivered the game-winning run as expected. In the top of the ninth inning, with a precarious one-run lead, Kim Do-young hit a solo home run to extend the winning streak. “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,” said Kim, reflecting on the game. “On the pitching side, Lee Yi-ri left the mound early due to pitching anxiety, but all the pitchers who came up afterward did their job, especially Lim Ki-young, who came back from a one-run lead, and Jung Hae-young, who saved the game for the first time in a long time,” he added.

“Everyone played their part and we were able to end the week on a high note,” said Kim. I would like to thank the players for doing their best during the week,” said Kim. “I would also like to thank the fans for supporting the players with their loud cheers today.”