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Kia Tigers roar into season with 7-2 win against LG Twins

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 17:50 Updated: 01 Apr. 2026, 18:05

Kia Tigers baseman Kim Do-yeong celebrates after hitting a home run during a match between the Kia Tigers and LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on March 31. [NEWS1]

The Kia Tigers beat the LG Twins 7-2 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday to secure their first win of the season. Kim Do-yeong hit his first home run of the season sending Tigers fans into a frenzy, while American pitcher Adam Oller showcased prowess by pitching six scoreless innings.

In contrast, the Twins — last season’s combined champion and again a strong title contender this year — remain winless after three games. The team lost its opening two-game series against the KT Wiz on Saturday and Sunday and the first game of its home series against the Tigers.

Both the Tigers and the Twins entered the game on two-game losing streaks, but the Tigers took control early. The Tigers scored in the top of the first inning when Harold Castro hit a double with one out, and Kim followed with an RBI single.

In the second inning, with two outs and runners on first and third, Kim Ho-ryung added an RBI single to right, and Castro followed with a two-run double to extend the lead to 4-0.

With two outs and a runner on second in the same inning, Kim Do-yeong hit a 137 km/h (85 mph) cutter from Twins starter Anders Tolhurst over the left-field wall for a 125-meter (410-feet) home run. The blast pushed the Tigers' lead to 6-0. Kim finished the game with three hits, including the home run, and three RBIs.

Twins starter Tolhurst struggled. He allowed a hit to Jarryd Dale with two outs and runners on first and third in the third inning. He gave up nine hits, including one home run, struck out five, and allowed seven runs over three innings. The Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Tigers' second pitcher Hong Min-gyu but lost its third straight game.

LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb is seen during a match against Kia Tigers at Jamsil Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, on March 31. [NEWS1]

Meanwhile, the SSG Landers and KT Wiz both extended their winning streaks to three games. The Landers beat the Kiwoom Heroes 9-3 at home in Incheon.

Cuban hitter Guillermo Heredia hit his first home run of the season in the fourth inning. The home run started the comeback. Kim Jae-hwan — acquired late last year — added a three-run homer in the seventh inning with the team leading 4-2. It was his first home run with Landers.

KT Wiz beat the Hanwha Eagles 9-4 on the road in Daejeon. Newly acquired American pitcher Caleb Boushley pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out eight. Kang Baek-ho, who moved to Hanwha Eagles on a four-year deal worth up to 10 billion won ($6.6 million) after eight seasons with KT Wiz, recorded two hits and two strikeouts in five at-bats in his first game against his former team.

Hanwha Eagles Kang Baek-ho bows towards the dugout of KT Wiz, his old team, during a match between the Eagles and Wiz at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on March 31. [NEWS1]

The NC Dinos beat the Lotte Giants 9-2 in Changwon. Japanese pitcher Toda Natsuki, signed through the Asian quota system, earned a win in his debut with five innings of two-run ball, while Kim Whee-jip drove in four runs. Lotte Giants starter Park Se-woong allowed four runs, with none earned, over five innings and became the team’s first losing pitcher of the season.

In Daegu, the Samsung Lions and the Doosan Bears played to a 5-5 draw, marking the first tie of the season. The Lions’ Choi Hyoung-woo hit a solo home run at the age of 42 years and 3 months, setting a new KBO record as the oldest player to hit a home run, surpassing the previous mark held by Shin-Soo Choo, who previously held the record at 42 years and 22 days.

Lewin Diaz, last season’s home run king for the Lions, hit a game-tying three-run homer in the eighth inning to prevent a loss. Bears starter Zach Logue pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, but the bullpen surrendered the lead, costing him the win.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY BAE YOUNG-EUN [[email protected]]