The KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) has escaped a two-game losing streak and made a comeback.
KT won 5-3 against SSG Landers in the regular season of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League on Wednesday at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, South Korea.
With the win, KT escaped its second straight loss of the season and improved to 5 wins (13 losses) on the season. With Lotte’s 4-9 loss to Kiwoom at the same time, KT leapfrogged Lotte and moved into ninth place in the standings. SSG dropped to 10-8 with its second straight loss.
SSG started Robert Dugger, who was coming off his worst pitching performance of the season, allowing 14 runs in three innings against Changwon NC on April 6th. Choi Ji-hoon (center field), Choo Shin-soo (designated hitter), Choi Jeong (third base), Eredia (left field), Han Yoo-seom (right field), Oh Tae-gon (first base), Park Sung-ho (shortstop), Lee Ji-young (catcher), and Ahn Sang-hyun (second base) were the starting lineup.
Wes Benjamin started on the mound for KT. Chun Sung-ho (second base), Rojas (left field), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Moon Sang-cheol (first base), Jang Jang-woo (catcher), Lee Ho-yeon (third base), Ahn Chi-young (center field), Jeong Jun-young (right field), and Kim Sang-soo (shortstop).
SSG struck first in the first inning. With the bases loaded and no outs in the first inning, Choi Jung-jeong lifted a 134-kilometer changeup from KT starter Benjamin for a solo home run over the center field fence. It was Choi’s sixth home run of the season and the 464th of his career. He was within striking distance of breaking current Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop’s record of 467 career home runs.
However, SSG gave up a run in the bottom of the first inning. KT answered right back. In the bottom of the first, KT had runners on second and third with a walk to Chun Sung-ho, a single to right by Rojas, and a grounder to the first baseman by Kang Baek-ho. Moon Sang-cheol tied the game at 1-1 with an infield single to shortstop. Jang Sung-woo and Lee Ho-yeon struck out in succession to end the inning.
However, KT tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning. Ahn Chi-young led off the inning with an infield single to shortstop, but shortstop Park Sung-han made a throwing error. Ahn wasted no time in advancing to third. Jung Jun-young then drew a walk to 토토사이트 put runners on first and third, and Kim Sang-soo took a 144-kilometer fastball from Dugger for a three-run home run to left field. It was a 4-1 lead.
SSG starter Dugger was pulled after allowing four runs on four hits (one homer) with two walks and two strikeouts in one inning. He couldn’t overcome the aftermath of the 14-run outburst.
In the top of the fourth, Kim Sang-soo led off with a double and Cheon Sung-ho followed with an RBI single to right. It made it 5-1.
SSG didn’t slow down in their pursuit. In the top of the sixth inning, Choi Jung-jeong singled to left and Heredia’s grounder to shortstop was misplayed by the third baseman, putting runners on first and second. Han Yoo-seom grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Oh Tae-gon’s RBI single to left scored a run.
In the top of the seventh, leadoff hitter Lee Ji-young singled, pinch-hitter Ko Myung-joon walked, and Choi Ji-hoon singled to right field to load the bases. It was a big hit in front of the warning track, but it looked like it was going into the glove of right fielder Jung Jun-young, but Jung missed the throw. It was a hit.
The bases were loaded with no outs, but Shin-Soo Choo hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score a run. However, with runners on first and second, Choi struck out and Heredia grounded out to third base, but the lead was short-lived. It was only 3-5.
KT drove a wedge into the game. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kang Baek-ho’s single was misplayed by SSG second baseman Kim Sung-hyun. Kang Baek-ho walked and Moon Sang-chul singled to left to put runners on first and second. Jang Jang-woo grounded out to shortstop, but Hwang Jae-gyun singled to left and Ahn Chi-young followed with a single to center, but center fielder Choi Ji-hoon’s throwing error allowed Hwang to score from first base. The Daggers added three more runs to make it 8-3.
KT earned its first win in four games after starting Benjamin pitched six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits (one home run) with two walks and six strikeouts. Kim Sang-soo went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, including the game-winning triple, while Ahn Chi-young also went 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI, and Chun Sung-ho and Moon Sang-chul also had multi-hit games.
SSG suffered another poor pitching performance from foreigner Dugger, which could spell trouble for the team in the upcoming regular season race.