[Anchor]

The first game of the professional baseball semi-playoffs was a showcase for KIA's top star, Kim Do-young. Powered by the first postseason multi-home run of his career and a total of 4 RBIs, he led KIA to victory.

Reporter Jeon Yeongmin has the details.

[Reporter]

Kim Do-young, who secured his first career home run title and clinched third place for KIA with his 45th home run of the season during the regular-season finale against LG on October 12, turned Game 1 of the semi-playoffs into his own stage.

In the bottom of the 4th inning with the score tied 1-1, he launched a first-pitch fastball from LG starting pitcher Tolhurst over the left-field wall for a go-ahead solo home run.

After driving in another run with a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning amid consecutive defensive miscues by LG with runners on first and third and no outs, Kim sent Champions Field into a frenzy once again in the 8th.

With two outs and a runner on first, he blasted a two-run homer over the center-field wall to put the game out of reach.

Recording his first postseason multi-home run and a postseason career-high 4 RBIs in a single game, Kim once again proved why he is the premier star of this era.

KIA starting pitcher Neill delivered a stellar performance, pitching 7 strong innings with a fastball topping out at 150 km/h and a sharp sweeper, striking out 6 batters while allowing just 1 run on 4 hits to earn his second career postseason victory following the Korean Series two years ago.

Securing a 5-1 dominant victory over LG, KIA successfully took the early momentum in the series.

[Kim Do-young / KIA Infielder: I came into today thinking that the first game was crucial, and I'm just glad we secured a great win. I think starting the series with a good hitting rhythm makes it even better.]

With 18,900 spectators packing Champions Field, the game marked the 39th consecutive sellout in the postseason.

Tomorrow (October 18), KIA's Allert and LG's Im Chan-kyu are set to clash as starting pitchers in Game 2.

(Video by Yang Doo-won | Video Editing by Lee Jae-sung)