The KIA Tigers, led by Kim Do-young's performance, defeated the LG Twins in three consecutive games to advance to the playoffs.
On October 20, at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium, KIA triumphed over LG with a score of 13-1 in the third game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason (PS) semifinals.
With victories in the first two games at home in Gwangju, KIA secured their playoff spot with a perfect series record of three wins and no losses.
This marks only the third time in history that a team has swept a best-of-five semifinal series, following the Samsung Lions in 2008 and the NC Dinos in 2023.
KIA returns to the playoffs for the first time in 23 years since 2003. In previous semifinals, including during the Haitai era, they were eliminated four times (1994, 2004, 2006, 2011). They won the Korean Series in 2009, 2017, and 2024 after finishing first in the regular season.
KIA will face the Samsung Lions, who finished second in the regular season, in the playoff opener on October 25 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
The series MVP award went to Kim Do-young, who recorded a .333 batting average (3 hits in 9 at-bats), 3 home runs, and 8 RBIs over the three games. He received 84 out of 97 votes (86.6%) from the media.
In the third game, KIA's entire lineup contributed, amassing 16 hits, with every starting batter recording at least one hit and one run. This achievement marks the second time in semifinal history and the fourth time in postseason history.
On the mound, starting pitcher Shirakawa Keisho delivered an impressive performance, allowing only 4 hits and 1 run while striking out 9 batters over 5 innings without issuing a walk. As the first Japanese player to win a postseason game in KBO history, he was also named the daily MVP.
The game was decided early in the second inning when KIA scored 7 runs. Lead-off hitter Na Sung-bum hit a solo home run off LG starter Carlos Carrasco. Following a series of errors, hits, and walks, KIA loaded the bases with one out. Park Jung-woo and Park Jae-hyun then delivered consecutive RBIs, putting KIA ahead 3-0.
With one out and the bases loaded, Kim Do-young hit a grand slam off reliever John Kennedy, extending the lead to 7-0.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) recorded the distance of the home run at 145 meters, while LG's TrackMan measured it at 145.8 meters. This is the longest recorded distance for a grand slam in semifinal history since measurements began in 2000, surpassing the previous record of 135 meters. It ties the overall postseason record set by Tyrone Woods (then of the Doosan Bears) in Game 6 of the 2001 Korean Series.
At just 23 years and 18 days old, Kim Do-young also set the record for the youngest grand slam in postseason history.
KIA added to their lead with an RBI from Park Jung-woo in the fifth inning and a solo home run from Na Sung-bum in the sixth, making it 9-0. In the seventh, Han Jun-soo contributed another solo home run, and in the eighth, KIA scored three more runs with a bases-loaded walk from Han Jun-soo and a two-RBI double from Park Min.
In contrast, last year's champions LG saw their hopes dashed as Carrasco struggled, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) in just 1⅓ innings. LG managed to score only once in the sixth inning on an infield groundout by Austin Dean, ending their postseason run with three consecutive losses.
With LG's elimination, this game marked the last professional baseball game at Jamsil Stadium. The Doosan Bears, who share the stadium, were eliminated earlier in the wildcard round. Opened in 1982, Jamsil Stadium will be demolished after this season to make way for a new domed stadium.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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