The Doosan Bears had the first laugh in the single-elimination game of the fall baseball tournament. Kang Seung-ho, who had a reverse cycling hit in the previous game, pulled and Yang Seok-hwan and Cho Su-hyun pushed. The KIA Tigers, who were missing Park Chan-ho due to injury, self-destructed with an error show and poor performances from key hitters.

Doosan dropped an 8-3 decision to KIA on Sunday at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju. Starting pitcher Raul Alcantara pitched a six-inning, three-run quality start to pick up his 13th win of the season. Having clinched the series early against their top-five rivals, Doosan swapped places with Kia to regain some ground in the standings race.

The difference between the two teams was evident in the mood and structure of the game. Doosan’s six-game winning streak was spearheaded by Kang Seung-ho. After becoming the first player in baseball history to hit a home run, triple, double, and single in the same order in a game two days earlier, he continued his hot streak with three hits, including a solo shot in his first at-bat. He came close to becoming the first player in history to hit a cycling hit in two consecutive games, although he was retired on a bunt single in the top of the ninth.

In the top of the order, Yang Seok-hwan was the difference maker. He had three hits in the third, fifth, and seventh innings, collecting four RBIs. Cho Su-hyung, who started in the ninth spot in right field, also utilized his quick feet to drive in three runs.

KIA felt the absence of starting shortstop Park Chan-ho. Kim Do-young, who moved to shortstop, and Byun Woo-hyuk, who started at third base, looked shaky as they made one throwing error after another. Add to that a bad pitch from pitcher Kim Dae-yoo in the seventh inning, and KIA had three errors in one game. Two of them led to runs.

The offense was no better. Kim Do-young, who started in the leadoff spot in place of Park Chan-ho, was silent in five at-bats, walking and striking out on two separate occasions in scoring position. Choi Hyung-woo and Socrates Brito also struck out at every opportunity. Na Sung-bum had a multi-hit game, including a two-run shot, but it wasn’t enough.메이저사이트

In Daegu, the Lotte Giants swept the Samsung Lions 7-4 to extend their winning streak to three games. Local ace Park Se-woong pitched six innings of two-run ball, and Ahn Chi-hong responded with back-to-back home runs in the third and fourth innings.