The KBO League's late-season drama is heating up, and fans are loving every minute of it! On September 17 and 18, 2025, the Hanwha Eagles surged to a third consecutive victory, defeating the KIA Tigers 6-2 in a game that showcased power hitting, solid pitching, and a dash of defensive drama. As the Eagles continue to chase the league-leading LG Twins, the playoff picture is growing more intriguing by the day.
Let’s set the stage. The Hanwha Eagles, sitting in second place, needed a win to keep their momentum and close the gap on the LG Twins. The action unfolded at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, where Hanwha’s offense wasted no time. In the top of the first inning, Luis Liberato doubled and was promptly driven home by Moon Hyun-bin’s clutch single, giving the Eagles an early 1-0 lead. But KIA wasn’t about to roll over—Choi Hyung-woo smacked a double down the right-field line in the bottom of the first, evening the score at 1-1.
The real fireworks erupted in the third inning. After two outs, Hanwha’s offense came alive in spectacular fashion. First, Luis Liberato launched a towering two-run homer over the center-field fence, putting Hanwha up 3-1. Then, after Moon Hyun-bin reached base on a fielding error by KIA’s second baseman Kim Sun-bin, Noh Si-hwan, who’s been red-hot at the plate lately, crushed his 31st home run of the season—a two-run shot to left. Suddenly, Hanwha led 5-1, and the momentum had shifted decisively.
KIA tried to answer back in the bottom of the inning. Park Chan-ho, not to be confused with the legendary MLB pitcher, hit a solo home run, trimming the deficit to 5-2. But that was as close as the Tigers would get. Hanwha kept the pressure on, and in the eighth, Liberato added to his already impressive night with a sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 6-2.
On the mound, Hanwha’s ace Ryu Hyun-jin was in command. He went five strong innings, striking out eight and allowing just two earned runs on seven hits. With this performance, Ryu notched his ninth win of the season (against seven losses) and now stands just one victory shy of back-to-back 10-win campaigns. After the game, Ryu said, "I just tried to focus on every batter and execute my pitches. Our hitters really gave me a boost tonight." According to Yonhap News, Ryu’s steady hand and the Eagles’ explosive bats made the difference.
The Eagles’ win didn’t just add another tick to their streak—it also brought them within 2.5 games of the idle LG Twins, whose matchup against KT Wiz was postponed due to rain. That cancellation means the Twins and Wiz will have to play a doubleheader, adding a little more pressure to the league leaders as Hanwha closes in.
KIA, meanwhile, has found itself in a rut. The Tigers’ loss was their third straight, and their defensive miscues—especially Kim Sun-bin’s crucial error—proved costly. As a result, KIA’s postseason hopes are fading fast, with the gap between them and fifth-place Samsung widening to 4.5 games. It’s a tough pill to swallow for KIA fans, who had hoped for a late push.
Elsewhere in the league, the NC Dinos kept their playoff dreams alive with a convincing 4-0 win over the SSG Landers. In Changwon, the Dinos broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Park Kun-woo reached on an infield single and Matt Davidson followed with a towering two-run homer to right—his 32nd of the season, moving him into second place in the home run race. Davidson’s blast was the turning point, and NC’s bullpen made sure the lead held up. Shin Min-hyuk started and tossed 5⅓ scoreless innings with five strikeouts, before a trio of relievers—Jeon Sa-min, Lim Ji-min, and Kim Jin-ho—combined to finish the shutout. "We kept our focus and executed our plan," said Davidson to Yonhap News. "Every win counts now."
Meanwhile, the Kiwoom Heroes continued their own resurgence by beating the Doosan Bears 4-2 at Jamsil. Kiwoom’s Ju-hyung Lee sparked the offense with an RBI single in the fourth and added a solo home run in the eighth—his first in 32 days. Mercedes, the Heroes’ starter, was rock solid, pitching seven innings of one-run ball and earning the win. Doosan, on the other hand, suffered its seventh consecutive loss, despite a debut home run from pinch-hitter Park Ji-hoon. The Bears’ late rally fell short, and their postseason hopes are now on life support.
Back to Hanwha and their playoff chase: the Eagles’ offense has been on fire lately, with both Liberato and Noh Si-hwan providing the power. Liberato’s two-run homer and sacrifice fly, combined with Noh’s 31st long ball, have given Hanwha a much-needed spark. The Eagles’ manager praised his team’s resilience, noting, "Our guys never quit. They keep battling every inning." That’s the kind of attitude you need in a pennant race.
It’s also worth noting the impact of weather on the standings. Rainouts have forced schedule changes across the league, including the LG Twins-KT Wiz and SSG-NC doubleheader first game, as well as the Lotte Giants-Samsung Lions matchup in Daegu. These postponements mean some teams will face grueling stretches of games, which could shake up the standings even further.
The LG Twins, despite sitting atop the table, now feel the Eagles breathing down their necks. With a doubleheader looming and Hanwha just 2.5 games back, the pressure is on. Fans are already speculating about a potential late-season showdown between the two clubs. Could we see a dramatic finish to the regular season? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—every game matters from here on out.
As the KBO season barrels toward its conclusion, the Eagles’ hot streak, the Dinos’ resilience, and the Heroes’ late push are giving fans plenty to cheer about. The playoff race is far from settled, and with weather and fatigue playing a role, anything can happen. For now, Hanwha’s win streak and Ryu Hyun-jin’s strong outing have set the stage for an electrifying finish. Baseball fans, buckle up—this race is just getting started!
