SEOUL (Interstat) — Kia Tigers used a late offensive surge to beat LG Twins 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Jamsil Stadium. The win moved Kia to 72-59-2, while LG dropped to 71-61-2. A crowd of 23,750 watched the visiting Tigers secure the victory. Jung Hai-young earned the win for Kia and improved to 3-2. Woo Kang-hoon took the loss for LG and fell to 0-2. Jeon Sang-hyun recorded the save, his second of the season. The game was a tight, back-and-forth contest that remained unsettled until the final innings.

Kia started quickly with two runs in the first inning, putting pressure on the LG pitching staff from the outset. The Tigers collected eight hits overall and paired that production with timely baserunning and a few defensive miscues by the Twins. Park Min delivered a key two-run single during the early rally, and Kia’s lineup kept enough pressure on LG to stay in front after surrendering the lead later. Kim Do-yeong reached base multiple times, including a walk in the first and another intentional walk in the late innings, while Harold Castro added a sacrifice fly that helped cap the decisive rally. Na Sung-bum drove in a run with a single to center field, and Kim Tae-gun and Park Min each came through with run-scoring hits as Kia pulled away. Kim Sun-bin also singled and walked, helping extend innings from the lower part of the order. Han Jun-su reached base via a hit-by-pitch and later scored, while Kim Ho-ryung added a single to right field. Park Jae-hyun contributed a sacrifice bunt in the late rally, moving runners into scoring position.

LG answered with two runs of its own, using the long ball to stay close. Austin Dean went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, and his drive helped the Twins immediately respond. Park Dong-won also went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, delivering another two-run blast that kept LG within striking distance. The Twins finished with seven hits and scored five runs, but they could not fully solve the Kia bullpen in the final innings. LG also scored a run in the third inning, and a two-run seventh briefly put the home team in position to steal the game. The Twins’ late push made the final innings tense, but Kia’s relief corps held the lead. Hong Chang-ki drew a walk and reached base on a fielder’s choice, while Park Hae-min singled and scored. Moon Jeong-bin and Moon Bo-gyeong also reached base, and Oh Ji-hwan drew a walk, but LG left runners stranded in key spots. Lee Jae-won drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, helping LG create traffic on the bases.

Kia scored once in the seventh to pull even, but LG answered with two runs in the bottom half to take a 5-3 lead. The Tigers then produced the most important sequence of the game in the eighth. Kim Tae-gun singled in front of center field to drive in a run, and Park Min followed with a single in front of left field that brought another run home. Harold Castro then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Kim Min-kyu and giving Kia a 6-5 lead. The three-run rally turned a two-run deficit into a one-run advantage and proved to be the difference. LG had chances earlier, including Dean’s homer and Park Dong-won’s two-run shot, but Kia’s ability to answer in the late innings decided the game. The Tigers’ bullpen then protected the lead, with Jeon Sang-hyun finishing the final inning. Kia’s defense also turned a double play behind its pitchers, and a sacrifice bunt helped set up the go-ahead rally.

Kim Jin-su of LG was effective in relief, pitching two scoreless innings with no hits, one walk and one strikeout. Kim Yun-sik followed with three innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts. Park Dong-won went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Kennedy pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with one walk. Dean went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Lee Tae-yang of Kia recorded two outs without allowing a hit or run and walked one. Lee Woo-chan of LG pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Jeon Sang-hyun of Kia pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout. Jung Hai-young of Kia got one out without allowing a hit or run. Sung Yeong-tak of Kia pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.

The result continued a competitive stretch between the teams. Kia had won the previous meeting between the clubs, and the Tigers improved their season record with another narrow victory. LG, which entered the afternoon looking to bounce back from recent losses, remained within reach in the standings despite the defeat. The Twins had their moments, especially when Dean and Park Dong-won connected for home runs, but they could not string together enough late offense against Kia’s bullpen. Kia’s defense and relief pitching did enough to make the late lead stand. The teams are scheduled to meet again in their upcoming series, with Kia also set to face Samsung and LG set to host NC and Doosan in the coming days. Kia’s next stretch includes games against Lotte and NC, while LG will also face Lotte later in its schedule. The one-run margin added to a season series that has featured several close finishes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kia Tigers 4, LG Twins 6. Interstat’s ELO system had projected LG with a 54.3 percent probability to win. The actual result instead saw Kia finish ahead by one run. The Tigers’ late rally made the projection moot, as Kia overcame the simulated edge and secured the one-run victory.