Kim Do-yeong homers to put KIA ahead in playoff opener against LG

Kim Do-yeong (김도영) hit a solo home run to put KIA ahead of LG in their KBO semi-playoff opener in Gwangju on October 17, according to Chosun Ilbo photo coverage. The game was played at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. KIA entered the series after finishing third in the regular season, one place above LG, and held a 9-7 advantage in their regular-season meetings. [ 4 , 38 , 40 ]

The best-of-five series was scheduled to begin with two games in Gwangju on October 17 and 18, both at 2 p.m. Games three and four were to be held at LG's Jamsil Stadium, with a fifth game, if needed, returning to Gwangju on October 23, Newsis reported. Chosun Ilbo said the winner would meet Samsung and noted that opening-game winners had advanced in 12 of 17 previous best-of-five semi-playoffs. [ 2 , 3 ]

KIA had beaten LG 4-2 in a third-place decider on October 12, with Kim supplying the decisive two-run home run, Chosun Ilbo reported. LG reached the semi-playoff by beating Doosan in the first wild-card game on October 14. The newspaper said LG was dealing with injuries to several key players as the series began. [ 2 ]

KIA completed batting and fielding preparations during an open training session on October 16, Newsis reported. The outlet also described a surge in travel and accommodation demand ahead of the game: trains from Seoul's Yongsan station to Gwangju-Songjeong sold out across the evening before the opener and the following morning. Four of ten accommodation businesses near the stadium were fully booked, while four others had only one room remaining. [ 1 , 3 ]