KT Wiz succeeded in the “Winning” series by writing a reversal drama for two consecutive days. Now KT is aiming at the fourth place.
KT came from behind to win 8-7 in the away game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 29th.
With the victory, KT recorded 61 wins, 62 losses and two draws, and posted a winning-loss margin of “-1” based on a winning percentage of 50%. The team ranks fifth in the league, narrowing its gap versus Doosan, which ranks fourth, to two games. Although KT’s ranking fell to the bottom on April 21 at the beginning of the season, it has made a leap forward and is now approaching the fourth place.
KT succeeded in gaining the upper hand by targeting the opponent’s starter Son Joo-young from the top of the first inning. The leadoff batter Rojas had an infield hit and Oh Yoon-seok had a bunt hit to secure the first and third base opportunities. Jang Sung-woo and Hwang Jae-gyun hit one after another, but the subsequent hitters showed off their concentration. After Moon Sang-chul hit a timely hit to the left and scored the first run, Kang Baek-ho drew a walk to continue the chance to load the bases. Bae Jeong-dae then hit a timely two-run hit to the left to make it 3-0.
However, LG also showed strong performance. In the bottom of the third inning, LG had consecutive hits. With one out, Lee Young-bin, Hong Chang-ki and Shin Min-jae had consecutive hits against KT starter Ko Young-pyo, creating a chance to load the bases. Here, Austin scored a timely hit with two RBIs and the next batter Moon Bo-kyung hit a sacrifice hit to the right field, bringing the game to square one 3-3.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, KT allowed the team to come from behind. Leading hitter Oh Ji-hwan walked and scored during Lee Young-bin’s timely hit to the right-center field after one out. Hong Chang-ki’s hit to the center field was followed by a fielder’s choice when Shin Min-jae hit a ground ball in front of the first baseman. The score was 3-5.
KT, which continued to be dragged, turned the game around by scoring five runs in a large number in the top of the eighth inning. Leading hitter Oh Jae-il drew a superior solo arch and chased him by a point at 4-5. Kang Baek-ho got on base with a walk and settled on the second base when Bae Jeong-dae made a sacrifice bunt. Following Kim Min-hyuk’s walk against the changed pitcher Yoo Young-chan, Shim Woo-joon’s hit to the right came out to grab the bases. Here, Rojas swept a three-run timely double, and Oh Yoon-seok also hit a timely hit to make it 8-5.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, KT’s closing pitcher Park Young-hyun gave up a timely double to left-center to Oh Ji-hwan and a sacrifice fly RBI to left-field to pinch-hitter Kim Bum-seok, leading to 8-7 and a point difference, but eventually won by keeping the lead. 메이저놀이터
KT’s starting pitcher Ko Young-pyo had difficulty in allowing nine hits, two walks, seven strikeouts and five runs (five earned) in four ⅔ innings (100 pitches) without completing the fifth inning. However, after Son Dong-hyun (⅔ innings), Kim Min-soo (⅔ innings), Woo Kyu-min (one inning), and Kim Min (one inning) pitched scoreless innings, Park Young-hyun (two runs in one inning) came out last to secure the team’s victory. In the 13-hit lineup, table setters Rojas and Oh Yoon-seok each had three hits and a bat.
“Son Dong-hyun, who took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning in crisis, was able to continue the close race by blocking the opponent’s extra point,” KT manager Lee Kang-chul said after the game. Kim Min-soo, Woo Kyu-min and Kim Min, who took the mound, pitched well without losing any points. Park Young-hyun also kept the lead until the end despite tough circumstances, praising bullpen pitchers evenly.
Manager Lee then said, “In the batting line, Oh Jae-il’s home run in the top of the eighth inning changed the flow, and Rojas hit a sweeping double, bringing the atmosphere. Oh Yoon-seok’s additional timely hit enabled us to solidify our spirit,” adding, “All the players worked hard, and I am grateful to the fans who supported us until the end.”
