KIA Tigers vs Lotte Giants

KIA erupted for three runs in the first inning, then added two in the third and three more in both the fourth and fifth to build an 11-3 lead through five innings. The Tigers scored in every inning they batted except the eighth, plating five more in the seventh to stretch the lead to 16-5.

Lotte, despite being held to three runs through seven innings, made a dramatic push in the eighth. The Giants sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs to trim the deficit to 16-11, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle. But KIA's bullpen shut the door in the ninth, stranding the comeback bid.

(Source: TheSportsDB event 2400513)

Lotte actually out-hit KIA 20-13, but the Tigers made each hit count. Castro's home run marked KIA's 27,000th franchise run in KBO history, as confirmed by the KBO's official YouTube channel.

KIA's five-run seventh inning broke the game open. Leading 11-5, the Tigers chased Lotte's bullpen with a rally that turned a six-run lead into an 11-run advantage. It proved decisive when Lotte's six-run eighth made the margin far narrower than the game felt for most of the night.

Had KIA not padded their lead in the seventh, Lotte's eighth-inning surge would have tied the game.

Player of the match: Castro (KIA Tigers) — Hit the historic home run that pushed KIA past 27,000 all-time franchise runs, part of a multi-hit performance.

Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) — KIA's star third baseman continued his MVP-calibre season with key hits in the early innings. The 22-year-old entered the game batting .280 with 36 home runs on the season.

Lee Ho-yeon (KIA Tigers) — Fresh off his historic walk-off grand slam the previous night (the first 9th-inning, 2-out, pinch-hit walk-off grand slam in KBO history per MoneyToday/OSEN), Lee contributed again in the series finale.

Lotte's 8th-inning bats — The Giants strung together six runs on multiple hits in the eighth, giving themselves a chance they ultimately couldn't complete. Lotte's 20 hits were a season high for a nine-inning game.

Lotte out-hit KIA 20-13 but still lost by five runs — a testament to how efficiently the Tigers turned baserunners into runs. KIA's 16 runs came on just 13 hits, capitalising on walks and extra-base hits at a far higher rate than Lotte, who scattered 20 hits across nine innings without ever delivering a knockout blow. The Giants had base runners in every inning but stranded enough to keep the deficit insurmountable.

The 20 hits for Lotte tied for the most by a losing team in KBO this season.

KIA improved to 62-50-2, consolidating fourth place in the KBO standings. The Tigers moved within 0.5 games of third-placed LG Twins (63-50-1). Lotte dropped to 50-60-2, remaining in sixth place and falling 15 games back of league leaders.

KIA's next fixture is against the Samsung Lions on Friday, August 28. Lotte travel to face the NC Dinos on the same day.

A wild, high-scoring affair that was never truly in doubt after the fourth inning but briefly flirted with disaster for KIA in the eighth. KIA's offence is peaking at the right time with 24 runs across two games against Lotte. The Giants, to their credit, kept swinging — 20 hits is a staggering total to come away with a loss, and it underscores that their bullpen, not their bats, is the problem.