Seoul: The Kiwoom Heroes secured a narrow 4-3 victory against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome, further solidifying their impressive preseason record in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). This win brings the Heroes to a 5-3-1 record, while the Giants fall to 2-3-2 as the preseason nears its conclusion.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Giants initially took the lead with Victor Reyes' two-out single in the first inning, but the Heroes quickly countered with a sacrifice fly from Choi Joo-hwan. Heroes starter Kim Yun-ha then kept the Giants scoreless over the next four innings, setting the stage for Park Ju-hong's solo home run in the second inning, marking the Heroes' 12th home run of the preseason.
Both teams faced challenges with loaded bases: the Heroes in the third inning and the Giants in the sixth. However, the Heroes capitalized in the sixth with Kim Tae-jin's bloop single and extended their lead to 4-1 in the seventh through another sacrifice fly by Choi.
The Giants attempted a comeback in the eighth inning with Na Seung-yeup's two-run single, narrowing the gap to 4-3. Yet, reliever Kim Seon-gi's crucial strikeout of Yoon Dong-hee halted their momentum, and the Heroes held on for the win.
Kim Yun-ha, eyeing a pivotal role in the regular season, showcased a versatile pitching strategy, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk over five innings. His counterpart, Park Se-woong, also delivered a commendable performance, striking out five and conceding two runs over five innings.
Post-game, Kim expressed confidence in his preparation, emphasizing the importance of fine-tuning his breaking pitches. "I need to be sharper with my breaking pitches," Kim stated, indicating his readiness for the upcoming season.
Heroes manager Hong Won-ki lauded Kim's aggressive approach, noting, "He attacked the strike zone really well," and expressed optimism about Kim's form as the regular season approaches.