LG Twins Explode for 8 Runs in 8th Inning: How Did They Sweep KIA Tigers?

The Pitchers' Duel That Kept Everyone Guessing

Have you ever watched a game where neither team could score for seven straight innings? That's exactly what happened on July 24, 2025, when LG Twins visited KIA Tigers at the Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. The atmosphere was electric, but the scoreboard remained frozen at 0-0 through seven innings of intense baseball.

LG's starter Son Ju-young delivered a masterclass performance, throwing 6.1 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just three hits and striking out five batters. The left-hander navigated through several tight situations, including a bases-loaded threat in the third inning where he calmly retired both Patrick Wisdom and Na Sung-bum on routine groundouts. His composure under pressure was remarkable, particularly when he faced a runner on second base due to his own throwing error in the sixth inning, yet managed to induce a flyout from Choi Hyung-woo to escape unscathed.

On the other side, KIA's veteran ace Yang Hyun-jong matched Son Ju-young pitch for pitch. The seasoned left-hander tossed six innings of three-hit ball with three walks and three strikeouts, keeping LG's dangerous lineup completely off the scoreboard. The tension built with each scoreless frame as fans from both sides wondered when the deadlock would finally break. KBO communities were buzzing with anticipation - would this turn into an extra-inning thriller or would one team finally crack?

The Eighth Inning Explosion Nobody Saw Coming

Then came the eighth inning, and everything changed in a heartbeat. What happened next was something Korean baseball fans would talk about for weeks. LG's offense, which had been held silent for seven innings, suddenly came alive with a fury that shocked everyone in the stadium.

It all started with Oh Ji-hwan and Park Hae-min connecting for back-to-back singles, followed by Shin Min-jae drawing a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Moon Sung-joo stepped up and delivered the first blow - a laser shot to right-center field that plated two runs and ignited the LG dugout. But the real fireworks were just beginning.

With runners still on second and third, Kim Hyun-soo came to the plate facing KIA's reliever Lee Jun-young. The veteran slugger got a slider right down the middle on the fourth pitch and didn't miss it - launching a majestic three-run homer over the right-center field wall for his eighth home run of the season. The LG bench erupted as the score suddenly ballooned to 5-0. Korean baseball communities like Naver Sports and DC Inside exploded with reactions - LG fans couldn't contain their excitement while KIA supporters watched in disbelief as their bullpen collapsed spectacularly.

When the Floodgates Opened Wide

But LG wasn't done yet. The Twins' batting order kept cycling through, and the hits kept coming like a relentless wave. Moon Bo-kyung and Park Dong-won added consecutive singles, and after a sacrifice bunt by Koo Bon-hyuk, LG found themselves with runners on second and third again with just one out.

Park Dong-won came through with an RBI single to right field, and then Oh Ji-hwan - batting for the second time in the same inning - ripped a two-run double to right field, pushing the lead to 8-0. Park Hae-min capped off the scoring frenzy with a sacrifice fly. In total, LG sent 13 batters to the plate in that single inning, collecting eight hits and eight runs off four different KIA pitchers who couldn't find a way to stop the bleeding.

The cultural significance of this moment wasn't lost on Korean baseball fans. LG had struggled against KIA in previous seasons, but this 2025 campaign marked a complete reversal - they finished with a 10-4 record against the Tigers. Online communities like theQoo and PGR21 highlighted how this performance represented LG's transformation from KIA's victim to their nemesis. One popular comment on DC Inside read: This is the LG we've been waiting for - clutch hitting when it matters most.

The Historic Sweep and What It Meant

With such a commanding lead, LG's bullpen trio of Ham Deok-ju, Lee Jung-yong, and Kim Young-woo shut the door over the final two innings, preserving the 8-0 shutout victory. This completed a remarkable three-game sweep of KIA in Gwangju - LG's first sweep at this venue in 12 years, a fact that sent shockwaves through the KBO community.

For LG, this victory extended their winning streak to four games and solidified their position in second place, maintaining a three-game cushion over third-place Lotte Giants. Kim Hyun-soo's heroics - going 2-for-4 with three RBIs including the decisive three-run homer - earned him hero status among LG fans. Relief pitcher Lee Jung-yong, who pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless relief in a crucial seventh-inning situation, earned his fourth win of the season.

Meanwhile, KIA's three-game losing streak dropped them from fourth to fifth place in the standings. Their bullpen's inability to hold the tie game in the eighth inning drew heavy criticism from fans and analysts alike. This series marked a turning point in both teams' seasons - LG would go on to win the 2025 regular season championship with an 85-56 record, while KIA finished in eighth place. The contrast between LG's clutch performance and KIA's bullpen meltdown became a defining narrative of the 2025 KBO season, frequently referenced in Korean baseball blogs and sports forums as an example of how one inning can change everything.