INCHEON, South Korea (Interstat) — A five-run eighth inning broke open a close game and the Kia Tigers routed the Shinsegae Landers 12-2 on Saturday night at Munhak Baseball Stadium in front of 23,000 fans.

Kia, which took a 7-1 lead into the eighth, sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times to put the game out of reach. The outburst included a go-ahead double by Han Jun-su that cleared the bases and a three-run triple by Park Jung-woo that capped the rally.

The win gave Kia a 2-1 series lead in the four-game set and improved its season record to 47-40-2. Shinsegae dropped to 32-54-2.

Kim Ho-ryung led the Tigers’ 18-hit attack with three singles in six at-bats. Harold Castro contributed two singles, a double, two runs and two RBIs. Park Jung-woo drove in three runs with a single and the eighth-inning triple.

Kia struck first with a five-run third inning. After back-to-back singles from Jeong Hyun-chang and Kim Ho-ryung, Castro doubled to right-center to plate Jeong. Kim Do-yeong’s groundout brought home Kim Ho-ryung, and Na Sung-bum doubled over the right fielder’s head to score Castro. A Kim Sun-bin double scored Na, and Park Sang-jun’s center-field single drove in Kim Sun-bin.

Shinsegae answered in the bottom of the third. Cho Hyeong-woo homered to right-center, and Park Seong-han doubled after a stolen base by Jeong Jun-jae to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Tigers added two runs in the sixth. Kim Ho-ryung singled, stole second, and scored on Castro’s single. Kim Do-yeong reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Na Sung-bum.

The game was decided in the eighth. Kim Ho-ryung singled and Castro singled to put runners at first and second. After a fielder’s choice, Na walked to load the bases. Han Jun-su doubled over the right fielder’s head, clearing the bases and scoring Kim Ho-ryung, Kim Do-yeong and Kim Min-gyu. Kim Kyu-sung was hit by a pitch and Park Jung-woo tripled to right, driving in three more runs.

Kia starter Lee Hyeong-beom earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Shinsegae managed only five hits. Park Seong-han had a double and an RBI. Cho Hyeong-woo homered.

The Tigers won for the fifth time in their last seven games. The Landers have lost nine of their last 10.

The teams conclude the series Sunday at Munhak. Kia then returns home to host Hanwha for three games beginning Tuesday. Shinsegae travels to face Lotte.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kia Tigers 3, Shinsegae Landers 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Kia with a 57.70 percent probability to win. Shinsegae had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +1.5. The total score of 14 went under the over/under line of 10.5.