KT Wiz’s magic worked against the ‘nemesis’ KIA Tigers.
KT completed an 8-4 upset victory over KIA in the 2023 KBO League at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on April 22.
Riding a three-game winning streak, ‘second-place’ KT has 59 wins, 2 draws and 46 losses, narrowing the gap to 6.5 games over leader LG Twins, who did not play due to rain on the day. Third-place SSG Landers is 1.5 games behind.
All the embarrassment of June, when they fell to the bottom of the standings, is gone. KT’s magical rebound was so impressive that even the players were asking themselves, “Isn’t this a rise that doesn’t make sense?” After settling into a groove in July, KT won 10 consecutive games in August to climb to second place.
KT’s magic worked even against KIA, a team that has been a nemesis this season (1-6).
KT scored in the top of the first inning when the Kia lineup was shaken up. Alford and Jang Sung-woo led off with back-to-back walks and scored on a single by Moon Sang-chul and Hwang Jae-gyun.
In the ensuing defense, starting pitcher Uhm Sang-baek gave up a solo home run to Choi Hyung-woo and an RBI single to Kim Sun-bin in the sixth to make it a 2-3 game. Substitute pitcher Son Dong-hyun also gave up an RBI single to Kim Tae-gun to make it 2-4.
KT was not going to go down easily.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, KT tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly by Choi Jae-dae and a single to left by Kim 토토사이트 Min-hyuk. During the double steal, KIA catcher Kim Tae-gun’s throw to third base slipped backward, allowing Lee Ho-yeon to come home and take the lead.
Leading 5-4, KT took advantage of a throwing error by KIA first baseman Choi Won-jun on a Park Byung-ho grounder, allowing second baseman Kim Min-hyuk to rush home to make it 6-4. With runners on first and second in the eighth, Kim Sang-soo drove in the winning run with a two-run double to the fence.
Uhm Sang-baek was pulled after 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits (one home run). Son Dong-hyun (1.1 innings of one-hit ball), who took the mound for the second time, earned the win. KIA starter Lee Yi-ri was forced to leave early after four innings and two runs due to shoulder soreness.
