'Three consecutive wins despite a spate of injuries' Manager Lee Kang-cheol expresses great satisfaction: "Hyun Jun-ho's recovery of form is encouraging, and the lineup showed excellent focus"

*This content was translated by AI.

'Key outfielder' Ahn Hyun-min, along with infielders Heo Kyung-min and Ryu Hyun-in, were among the key players sidelined by injuries, but KT Wiz's upward momentum remained unimpeded. KT secured a three-game winning streak by defeating the Kiwoom Heroes at home, reclaiming sole second place.

On the 17th, KT Wiz defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 5-0 in a home game at Suwon KT Wiz Park. Despite concerns over a string of recent injuries among team players that threatened to weaken the roster, the team achieved a perfect blend of pitching and hitting, recording 12 wins and 5 losses (winning percentage 0.706), surpassing LG to return to second place.

The biggest highlight was undoubtedly the resurgence of starting pitcher Hyun Jun-ho. On this day, Hyun Jun-ho delivered a 'quality start' pitching performance with 6 innings, 5 hits allowed, 7 strikeouts, and 1 hit by pitch, allowing zero earned runs. The shaky appearance seen in the early part of the season was completely gone. His top velocity reached 148 km/h, and both his control and command found stability, overwhelming the Kiwoom lineup to secure his second win of the season.

With Hyun Jun-ho holding firm, the bullpen featuring Kim Min-soo, Jeon Yong-ju, and Son Dong-hyun executed a scoreless relay pitching effort, supporting the team's decisive victory.

In the lineup, 'home-field captain' Jang Sung-woo's bat ignited with fire. In the bottom of the first inning with two outs, Jang Sung-woo hit a massive solo home run traveling 125 meters (his sixth of the season), propelling him to sole leadership in the league's home run category.

Triggered by Jang Sung-woo's home run, the KT lineup displayed formidable focus. Choi Won-jun and Kim Sang-su perfectly fulfilled their table-setting roles, while lower-order hitters including Lee Kang-min and Oh Yun-seok contributed RBIs, completing the season's second instance of a lineup with all nine batters recording hits. The cohesive offensive power left no trace of the injury gaps.

After the game, Manager Lee Kang-cheol wore a bright smile. His pride in the players who continued the winning streak despite the injury setbacks was evident.

The manager stated, "Starting pitcher Hyun Jun-ho delivered strong performances in two consecutive games, laying the foundation for victory. His ability to manage the game was outstanding, and it appears he has fully regained his condition since his first appearance of the season, which is very encouraging", welcoming the ace's resurgence.

He continued, reflecting on the lineup: "Both the top and bottom of the order showed consistent focus. We were able to set the tone early in the game thanks to Choi Won-jun's smart baserunning, Kim Sang-su's RBIs, and Jang Sung-woo's home run", adding that "Lee Kang-min, Hilliard, and Oh Yun-seok later added RBIs to solidify the lead. All players worked hard, and I offer my deepest gratitude to the fans who supported us", bowing his head with these remarks.

KT, having turned an injury crisis into an opportunity, is now expected to build on their pleasant three-game winning streak to solidify their position near the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Kiwoom, now in a four-game losing streak, suffered a setback as starter Wills collapsed after allowing five earned runs over six innings. For the match on the 18th, KT has announced Boshley as the starter, while Kiwoom has named An Woo-jin.

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*This content was translated by AI.