The KT Wiz snapped a two-game losing streak to the Samsung Lions.
KT won its first game of the season against Samsung Lions 8-5 in 11 extra innings in the first game of the midweek series at Lions Park in Daegu on Oct. 21 to earn its first win over Samsung Electronics. It ended a three-game losing streak to Samsung Electronics since Oct. 6 last year in Suwon, including the opening two games.
It was a gratifying, tough, but pleasant first away win.
Rookie Yook Cheong-myung-kad was able to catch the best pitcher in the league, Won Tae-in.
KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-cheol said before the game, “There is a difference between the must-win group and the chasing group. That’s why we sometimes lose. That’s why we play the must-win group first when we can win the game.” “Even though I’m a rookie pitcher, even if my fastball is reversed, opponents don’t take advantage of it,” he said, adding, “I have a good batting lineup, so I’ll try to use my bullpen if I have the chance.”
The next day, on the 22nd, Samsung Electronics will start ace William Cuevas. It was calculated that the bullpen would not be used up.
Yook Cheong-myung lived up to his manager’s expectations. He was no match for Won Tae-in.
Over five innings, he allowed one run on five hits and two walks while mixing a fastball that topped out at 148 mph with a changeup-slider. He threw 84 pitches, the most of any pitcher in his career. Took the mound out of the bullpen in the sixth inning with a 3-1 lead. He struggled early but settled down quickly once he got the lead.
Lee Jae-hyun led off the inning with a single and Oh Jae-il doubled off the fence to put runners on second and third. Kang gave up a sacrifice fly to Minho Kang to tie the game at 1-1. Kim Heon-gon singled, and with runners on first and third, Kim Ji-chan’s infield fly to center field was thrown out at home by Choi Jae-dae, who made a spectacular catch to throw out Oh Jae-il at third.
Samsung Lions ace Won Tae-in struggled for the second straight game.
After a four-run loss in six innings against SSG on April 14 that ended his personal four-game winning streak, Won failed to get off to a quality start for the second straight game, giving up three runs on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings against KT on April 21. Kim Young-woong’s dramatic three-run homer in the eighth inning saved him from defeat, but his ERA rose from 2.06 to 2.35. Prior to that, Won Tae-in was on a four-game streak of quality starts.
KT deployed their natural enemies forward to catch Won, and it worked.
Rojas, who was 5-for-11 (.455) with one home run and two RBIs, was the top hitter for the second straight game. Jang Jang-woo (.379, two home runs) batted fifth and Jang Jae-dae (.375) seventh to pressure Won Tai-in.
After back-to-back singles by Rojas and Kim 스포츠토토 Min-hyuk put runners on first and second in the top of the first inning, Jang Jang-woo drove a Won Tae-in fastball over the right-field wall for the game’s first run.
The Samsung bats tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second, but KT had Jang Sung-woo.
With two outs in the top of the third, Kang Baek-ho technically folded his arm and dropped a full cutter down the right-field line. Moon Sang-chul followed with a double, putting runners on first and second.
Immediately after giving up the run, Won Tae-in squatted on the mound and signed to the bench, complaining of discomfort in his back. He was not feeling well, but he remained responsible until the end.
He fought through the pain and stayed on the mound. But the pitching wasn’t normal, and KT took advantage.
With runners on first and second, Jang Sung-woo and Hwang Jae-gyun hit back-to-back singles to take a 3-1 lead. KT scored one run in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 5-1 lead, thanks to a strong pitching performance by No. 2 starter Kim Min-soo.
However, the rejuvenated Samsung did not go down easily.
Down 1-5 in the top of the eighth inning, Samsung scored one run on three consecutive hits, including a single to center by Kim Tae-hoon, who came off the bench, and a double by Koo Ja-ook McKinnon.
With runners on first and second and one out, KT quickly relieved Kim Min-soo and brought in Park Young-hyun to close the game. It looked like a game-winner.
However, Samsung’s new big man Kim Young-woong 바카라사이트 swung hard at Park’s slider on a full count, sending it over the wall in right-center field. The dramatic three-run shot tied the game at 5-5. It was his 12th home run of the season.
In the sixth overtime game of the season, KT’s bench was active.
In the top of the 11th inning, they brought in pinch-hitter Chun Sung-ho. He drew a walk against his former teammate Kim Jae-yoon to lead off the inning. When Rojas came to bat, he hit a 2B2S double that left the runners stranded. Video review upheld a safe throw to first. On a full count, Rojas lined a single to center field, ending the four-hour battle. With runners on second and third, Jang induced a hard-hit ground ball that fell between third baseman Jeon Byung-woo’s crotch to drive in two more runs. Rojas, who has been the top hitter since the last game, continued his streak with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Son Dong-hyun, who pitched three scoreless innings of relief in a come-from-behind victory over LG on April 19, pitched two scoreless innings in the 10th and 11th to earn his first save of the season.