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Professional baseball star Kim Do-young of the KIA Tigers has hit his 44th home run of the season, solidifying his path toward his first career home run title. The possibility of third-place KIA securing a direct berth to the semi-playoffs is also growing increasingly likely.

Reporter Lee Seonghun has the details.

[Reporter]

In the first inning against the SSG Landers, Kim Do-young expressed his disappointment as his well-hit ball was caught directly by the shortstop, but in the third inning with the game tied 2-2, he finally cleared the fence.

He drove SSG pitcher Choi Min-jun's first pitch deep over the left-center field wall like a bullet for a two-run homer, sending home fans into a frenzy.

With his 44th home run of the season, Kim widened the gap with KT's Hilliard to two home runs, boosting his chances of claiming his first-ever home run title.

KIA seized control in the fifth inning with a one-run lead, adding four runs highlighted by Castro's three-run homer and Na Sung-bum's back-to-back solo shot.

If KIA wins this game as it stands, they only need to win one of their remaining two games to secure third place and a direct ticket to the semi-playoffs.

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The fourth-place LG Twins also kept their slim hopes alive.

Leading 3-1 with two outs in the ninth inning, they gave up a two-run RBI single to Lotte's Na Seung-yeop and were dragged into extra innings. However, Song Chan-eui delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning to score the game-winning run, securing a precious victory and keeping alive their chances to challenge for third place in their final game against KIA the day after tomorrow (October 12).

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The Hanwha Eagles, whose ninth-place finish has been confirmed, officially announced that they will part ways with manager Kim Kyung-moon and general manager Son Hyuk—whose contracts expire at the end of this season—following today's final regular-season game.

(Video Editing: Lee Jae-sung)