How SSG’s Kim Jae-hwan’s Home Run Led to a 3-2 Victory Against KIA: A Must-Read Game Recap

Choi Min-jun / Photo=DB

[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] GWANGJU — The SSG Landers bounced back from the previous day’s loss to beat the KIA Tigers 3-2 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League exhibition at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on March 13.

The victory evened SSG’s spring record at 1-1; KIA is also 1-1.

Kim Jae-hwan supplied the big blow with a solo home run, while starter Takeda delivered three scoreless innings with four strikeouts to set the tone.

For KIA, Park Min had two hits and an RBI but couldn’t stop the defeat. Starter Kim Tae-hyung worked three innings, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Reliever Hong Min-gyu gave up two runs on three hits with one strikeout over two innings.

SSG struck first. In the top of the second, leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan cleared the right-field wall for a solo homer. Takeda and reliever Choi Min-jun followed with steady innings to protect the lead.

SSG added insurance in the top of the fifth. After two outs, Jung Joon-jae ripped a triple to ignite the rally, and consecutive RBI singles from Park Seong-han and Eredia produced two more runs.

KIA didn’t respond until the bottom of the seventh. A hit-by-pitch to Jung Hyun-chang and a double by Yoon Do-hyun created a one-out, runners-on-2nd-and-3rd opportunity. Kim Kyu-seong’s sacrifice fly and Park Min’s RBI single cut the deficit to one and put pressure on SSG.

SSG’s bullpen held firm from there, preserving the one-run lead and securing a 3-2 win.

[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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