'Left-left-left-left-left' KT's gamble pays off! Rookie Lee Kang-min hits walk-off, topples Neill and Jo Sang-woo, securing 8-3 victory over KIA [Suwon On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz secured a winning series thanks to the performance of high school graduate rookie Lee Kang-min against the KIA Tigers.

On the 22nd, KT defeated KIA 8-3 in a regular-season home game at Suwon KT Wiz Park as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, KT extended its winning streak to two games, securing the winning series and maintaining sole first place with a record of 15 wins and 6 losses, half a game ahead of the second-place team. Meanwhile, KIA fell into a four-game losing streak, dropping to 10 wins and 11 losses and losing its .500 winning percentage.

In a head-to-head matchup of foreign starters, KT claimed a decision victory. KT's strategy of filling the lineup with left-handed hitters from the first to sixth spot against KIA's right-handed pitcher James Neill proved effective. KT's left-handed batters consistently produced hits, and even the lower-order batters used strategic plays to create a two-out, bases-loaded crisis, draining Neill's effectiveness.

Ultimately, Neill left the mound after 5 innings (98 pitches), allowing 6 hits, 2 walks (1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch), striking out 4 batters, and surrendering 2 earned runs. Jung Hae-young, who returned to the first team after 11 days, pitched 1 inning, allowing 1 hit, 1 hit-by-pitch, striking out 1 batter, and remaining scoreless in a successful comeback appearance.

KT's Matt Sauer pitched 6⅓ innings (93 pitches), allowing 3 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, striking out 7 batters, and surrendering 1 earned run, achieving a quality start (6+ innings with 3 or fewer earned runs). However, he could not secure the win due to a collapse by the bullpen.

In the KT lineup, rookie Lee Kang-min contributed with 1 hit in 4 at-bats, including a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 7th, and 2 RBIs. Choi Won-jun went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 2 runs scored. Kim Min-hyeok went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs. Kim Hyun-soo went 2-for-5. Sam Hilliard went 2-for-5.

KT's lineup for the day was: Choi Won-jun (right field), Kim Min-hyeok (left field), Kim Hyun-soo (first base), Lee Jeong-hoon (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (center field), Kwon Dong-jin (third base), Oh Yun-seok (second base), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (shortstop). Matt Sauer started on the mound.

Lotte countered with the following lineup: Kim Ho-ryeong (center field), Lee Ho-yeon (first base), Kim Seon-bin (designated hitter), Kim Do-young (third base), Harold Castro (left field), Na Sung-beom (right field), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Jung Hyun-chang (shortstop), and Jered Dale (second base). James Neill started on the mound.

The home team KT took the lead. In the bottom of the 2nd inning with one out, Hilliard and Kwon Dong-jin hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Oh Yun-seok hit a cutter on the outside, producing a high-bouncing ball. Neill chose to play for the home run, but Hilliard reached home plate a step faster to score the first run.

KT's left-handed batters struck again. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun drew a walk and then stole second base, quickly creating a scoring opportunity. Kim Min-hyeok then drove Neill's outside sweeper into the gap for a single to right-center, scoring one run. KT led 2-0.

Even without scoring, KT relentlessly harassed the opposition. In the bottom of the 4th inning, leadoff hitter Oh Yun-seok reached on an infield single to shortstop. Han Seung-taek's sacrifice bunt and Lee Kang-min's ground ball to second base sent the KIA battery into a tense situation. Neill escaped the danger by striking out Choi Won-jun on a swinging strikeout.

In the bottom of the 5th inning with two outs, no runs scored, but Lee Jeong-hoon hit a hit to left-center field, and Hilliard hit a double down the right-field line, keeping the pressure on. Ultimately, Neill was replaced by Jung Hae-young before the top of the 6th inning and left the mound.

KIA also launched a counterattack. In the top of the 6th inning, leadoff hitter Dale targeted Sauer's 150 km/h high fastball and cleared the right-field fence. Dale's first KBO home run finally broke through.

In the top of the 7th inning, the game turned. After one out, Castro, Na Sung-beom, and Han Jun-soo drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Although Sauer was replaced by Jeon Yong-ju, and Jeon Yong-ju by Son Dong-hyun, the bases remained full.

Pinch-hitter Ko Jong-uk hit a sacrifice fly to right field off Son Dong-hyun, scoring one run. Dale fouled off three pitches in a 1-2 count before drawing a fourth ball to reach base again. Kim Ho-ryeong also earned an intentional walk after a nine-pitch battle, giving KIA a 3-2 lead.

However, KT quickly reversed the momentum with a big inning. It began with Kim Hyun-soo reaching on an infield single in the bottom of the 7th. Pinch-hitter Jang Sung-woo drew a walk, and Hilliard hit a ground ball to create a one-out, bases-loaded situation.

After pinch-hitter Kim Sang-soo hit a ground ball to shortstop, Oh Yun-seok was awarded an automatic intentional walk to load all bases. However, Kim Do-young failed to field Han Seung-taek's ground ball cleanly, tying the game at 3-3.

Rookie Lee Kang-min struck again. Lee targeted the first pitch from reliever Jo Sang-woo, hitting a two-run single down the left-field line to take a 5-3 lead. Choi Won-jun followed with a single to right field for one RBI, and Kim Min-hyeok hit a two-run single down the left-field line, extending the lead to 8-3.

Thereafter, Joo Kwon-ki pitched two scoreless innings, leading KT to a winning streak.

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*This content was translated by AI.