KIA Tigers third baseman Kim Do-young hit a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game of the KBO semi-playoff series against the LG Twins on Saturday, 뉴스핌 reported. The game, the opener of a best-of-five series, was played at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.
With the score tied 1-1 and one out in the fourth, Kim swung at the first pitch from LG starter Anders Tolhurst — a 149 km/h four-seam fastball — and drove it over the left-field fence. 뉴스핌 put the distance at 125 meters.
Kim, who batted third and started at third base, had lifted a 142 km/h cutter from Tolhurst to left field for a fly out in his first at-bat in the opening inning.
Why it matters
The home run gave KIA its first lead of the series and underlined Kim's status as the league's premier power threat. Kim led the KBO in home runs this regular season, per 뉴스핌, and the Tigers are counting on him to carry that production into the postseason.
It was also Kim's second career postseason home run. He hit one in five Korean Series games during the 2024 season, when KIA won the championship.
How the early innings unfolded
LG opened the scoring in the top of the second when Song Chan-ui hit a solo home run off KIA starter James Nail. KIA answered in the bottom half through Harold Castro, whose one-run shot leveled the game at 1-1 and set up Kim's fourth-inning swing.
A mixed regular season against LG
Kim's overall numbers against LG this year were modest. According to 뉴스핌, he batted .208 with 10 hits, including four home runs, 12 RBIs and eight runs scored across 15 games against the Twins.
His late-season form against LG was more consequential. 뉴스핌 reports that Kim hit two decisive home runs against the Twins down the stretch that helped KIA secure third place in the standings. Saturday's homer continued that pattern in the postseason.
Kim's full regular-season line, as reported by 뉴스핌: a .308 average over 135 games, with 153 hits, 45 home runs, 118 RBIs and 120 runs scored — numbers that earned him the league home run title.
The series continues with Game 2, where KIA will look to build on the opener and LG will try to level the best-of-five set.
