In a heart-stopping showdown at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on April 29, 2026, the Kiwoom Heroes edged out the Lotte Giants 6-5 after an intense 11-inning battle in the 2026 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League. This dramatic victory not only avenged Kiwoom’s loss from the previous day but also widened their lead over Lotte in the league standings, putting a two-game cushion between the 9th and 10th place teams.
The game opened with fireworks as An Chi-hong, batting third for Kiwoom, smashed a solo home run off Lotte’s starting pitcher Elvin Rodriguez in the very first inning. Rodriguez, who would go on to pitch 6⅓ innings allowing four hits and three runs, watched as Chi-hong’s 132 km/h sweeper was sent soaring over the left field wall. That early statement set the tone, but Lotte was quick to respond. In the bottom of the second, Yoon Dong-hee—making his return to the lineup—singled and later scored on Jeon Min-jae’s double down the left field line, tying the game at 1-1.
The back-and-forth nature of this contest was apparent all night. Lotte grabbed the lead in the fourth when Yoon drew a walk and Yoo Kang-nam delivered a clutch double to center, making it 2-1 in favor of the home team. Kiwoom, undeterred, struck back in the fifth. After Im Ji-yeol coaxed a walk, Im Byung-wook stepped up and delivered one of the night’s most electrifying moments—a two-run homer off a high changeup from Rodriguez. That blast, Im’s first home run of the season, put Kiwoom back on top, 3-2.
After the game, Im Byung-wook credited his preparation and advice from teammates for his big moment. “Before the game, I talked with (An) Woo-jin,” Im revealed. “He told me the pitcher would likely go heavy on breaking balls, and that stuck with me. I’m just glad I could help the team win.” Im also expressed gratitude to the coaches and teammates from the second team who helped him prepare, saying, “I had to live up to their expectations.”
Lotte refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the seventh, Jang Doo-sung was hit by a pitch and Victor Reyes singled, setting up a first-and-third situation. Although Noh Jin-hyuk grounded into a double play, Jang’s aggressive baserunning tied the game at 3-3. The tension was palpable, and the crowd was on edge with every pitch.
The eighth inning saw the game’s wildest swings. Kiwoom loaded the bases with one out, thanks to a combination of hits and walks. Kim Ji-seok hit a grounder back to the mound, but Lotte’s reliever Hyun Do-hoon threw wildly to home, allowing two runs to score and giving Kiwoom a 5-3 lead. However, Lotte’s Park Seung-wook erased that advantage in the bottom of the frame, launching his first home run of the season—a two-run shot off Kiwoom’s setup man Kim Jae-woong—to knot the score at 5-5.
Both bullpens were called into action repeatedly as the game stretched into extra innings. Kiwoom’s relief corps was particularly impressive: Won Jong-hyun (1⅔ innings, no runs), Kim Sung-jin (1 inning, no runs), Park Jung-hoon (1 inning, 1 run), Kim Jae-woong (1 inning, 1 run), Park Jin-hyung (2 innings, no runs), and Kanakubo Yuto (1 inning, no runs) kept Lotte at bay when it mattered most. Park Jin-hyung’s effort was especially notable, as he earned his first win since April 21, 2021—a span of 1,834 days.
Kiwoom’s manager, Seol Jong-jin, praised his squad’s resilience after the game. “In this tense, extended battle, the players never lost their concentration,” Seol said. “Choi Joo-hwan got on base with a double in the 11th, Im Byung-wook executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Oh Seon-jin calmly succeeded with the squeeze play. It was a total team effort.” Seol also lauded the bullpen, highlighting the performances of Won Jong-hyun, Park Jin-hyung, and closer Kanakubo Yuto, who recorded his fifth save of the season. “Even with the game dragging on, our fans kept cheering, and we’re grateful for their support,” Seol added, promising to prepare well for the next contest.
The decisive blow came in the 11th inning. Choi Joo-hwan led off with a double, and Im Byung-wook laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt to move him to third. With the pressure mounting, Oh Seon-jin dropped a perfectly executed squeeze bunt, allowing Choi to dash home with what would stand as the winning run. Oh’s heroics didn’t stop on offense—he also contributed two hits and played solid defense throughout the marathon contest.
Lotte’s lineup, featuring Jang Doo-sung, Victor Reyes, Noh Jin-hyuk, Jeon Jun-woo, Yoon Dong-hee, Yoo Kang-nam, Jeon Min-jae, Park Seung-wook, and Lee Ho-joon, put up a valiant fight. Yoon, Jang, Noh, Yoo, and Park all recorded multiple hits, and Park’s eighth-inning homer kept the Giants’ hopes alive until the very end. Despite these efforts, Lotte’s inability to capitalize on key opportunities—combined with a costly throwing error—ultimately sealed their fate.
Kiwoom’s starting pitcher, Oh Seok-ju, delivered a gutsy performance, going 3⅓ innings with five hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and two earned runs. For Lotte, Rodriguez’s six-plus innings of work included two home runs allowed, but he kept his team in it until the bullpens took over.
With this win, Kiwoom evened the season series with Lotte at 1-1 and gained valuable momentum heading into the next matchup. The Heroes announced that Bae Dong-hyun would take the mound for the following game, while Lotte planned to counter with Jeremy Biddle.
For fans at Sajik Stadium and those following along at home, this epic contest was a reminder of why baseball remains one of the most unpredictable and thrilling sports around. Every inning brought new twists, and until the final out, no one could be sure which team would emerge victorious. As the league marches forward, both Kiwoom and Lotte will look to build on the lessons—and the drama—of this unforgettable night.