'Lowest Winning Percentage on Children's Day' KT Holds Off Lotte 5-4, Retains Top Spot! Kim Sang-soo's Surprise Advance to Third Base → Pinch-hitter Kwon Dong-jin's Game-Winning Hit [Suwon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The game was decided in the details. With the help of veteran Kim Sang-soo's surprise advance to third base and Kwon Dong-jin's game-winning hit, KT Wiz secured their second-ever Children's Day victory in franchise history.

KT defeated Lotte 5-4 in a regular-season home game at the Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 5th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

In a matchup between the teams ranked 9th and 10th in winning percentage on Children's Day, the home team KT emerged victorious. Before this game, Lotte held a record of 15 wins and 28 losses (winning percentage 0.366), while KT stood at 1 win and 8 losses (winning percentage 0.111), both sitting at 9th and 10th place respectively in Children's Day winning percentage. With this win, KT, now on a two-game winning streak, improved to 22 wins and 10 losses to claim sole possession of first place. Lotte, whose winning streak of four games came to an end, remained in 9th place in the league with a record of 12 wins, 1 tie, and 18 losses.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 8th inning when both teams were tied 4-4. With no outs and a runner on first base after Kim Sang-soo reached on a lucky hit, Yoo Jun-kyu attempted a surprise bunt toward third base. The pitcher, third baseman, and catcher all rushed to field the ball, and Yoo Gangnam was thrown out at first base. However, during that scramble, Kim Sang-soo, who was on second base, stole third base. Following that, Kwon Dong-jin hit a massive double that struck the right-field wall, scoring the crucial run.

In the starting pitcher duel, KT was awarded a win by decision. KT's So Hyoung-jun delivered a quality start (six or more innings with two or fewer earned runs) by pitching six innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out six batters and giving up two earned runs. Lotte's Alvin Rodriguez pitched five innings, allowing eight hits (including one home run), two walks, striking out six batters, and surrendering four earned runs.

The three Lotte players who had been suspended earlier this year due to illegal gambling allegations showed impressive performances in their first game back. Only starter Ko Seung-min went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one walk, and one run scored. Substitute player Na Seung-yeop went 2-for-2 with two hits and two RBIs, combining for two RBIs. The last substitute, Kim Se-min, also contributed with a walk. In the KT lineup, Kim Sang-soo went 2-for-3 with two hits, two runs scored, and the game-winning run; Lee Kang-min went 2-for-3 with two hits; pinch-hitter Lee Jung-hoon went 1-for-1 with two RBIs; and Sam Hilliard went 1-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one walk, and two runs scored.

On this day, Lotte lined up its batting order as follows: Jang Du-seong (center fielder), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Victor Reyes (left fielder), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Noh Jin-hyuk (first baseman), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Park Seung-wook (third baseman), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), and Son Seong-bin (catcher). The starting pitcher was Alvin Rodriguez.

In response, KT set its lineup as follows: Kim Min-hyuk (designated hitter), Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-su (first baseman), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Kim Sang-soo (second baseman), Yoo Jun-kyu (center fielder), Jang Jun-won (third baseman), and Lee Kang-min (shortstop). The starting pitcher was So Hyoung-jun.

Ko Seung-min, making his first appearance in the first division this season, immediately made his presence felt. In the top of the 1st inning, he easily fielded a hit by leadoff batter Kim Min-hyuk and recorded an out at first base. In the top of the 2nd inning with two outs and his first at-bat, he crushed a high outside changeup from So Hyoung-jun for a hit to left field.

However, the first run belonged to the home team, KT. Hilliard, leading off the bottom of the 2nd inning, sent Rodriguez's 142 km/h cutter down the middle into the right-field stands. It was a 123.3-meter home run, his seventh of the season.

It was a missed opportunity for KT that no further runs followed. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Lee Kang-min and Kim Min-hyuk reached base with consecutive hits, putting runners on second and third with no outs, but no additional runs scored due to a lack of timely hitting.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, leadoff batter Lee Kang-min opened the door again with an infield hit. Lee advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then to third base on a ground ball hit by Choi Won-jun. However, he failed to score when Kim Hyun-su hit a ground ball to first base.

While KT struggled to score, Lotte managed to counterattack. In the top of the 6th inning, with Lotte trailing 0-1, leadoff batter Jeon Min-jae reached base with a hit to center field. Jeon stole second base, then Jang Du-seong drew a walk, and Yoon Dong-hee's ground ball resulted in two outs with runners on second and third. At that moment, Reyes hit a two-run, go-ahead double to center field off So Hyoung-jun's first pitch, instantly taking a 2-1 lead.

Only then did KT's offense come alive. Coincidentally, after Lotte's catcher switched from Son Seong-bin to Jeong Geun-geun, Rodriguez began to falter. In the bottom of the 6th inning, leadoff batters Jang Seong-woo and Hilliard reached base on consecutive walks. Rodriguez fielded Kim Sang-soo's bunt and threw to the distant second base instead of the nearby third base, allowing all runners to advance safely.

KT capitalized on the opportunity. Yoo Jun-kyu hit a one-run, go-ahead single to center field, and Lee Jung-hoon hit a two-run, go-ahead single to left field, forcing Rodriguez off the mound. KT took a 4-2 lead. Fortunately for Lotte, relief pitcher Jung Hyun-soo came in and retired the next three batters on weak contact, preventing further runs.

And then, Lotte immediately tied the game. Trailing 2-4 in the top of the 7th inning with one out, Ko Seung-min drew a walk on a straight pitch, and Jeon Min-jae reached base with an infield hit, putting runners on first and second with one out. At that point, pinch-hitter Na Seung-yeop hit a one-run, go-ahead single to left field, marking his first RBI since returning this year.

Lotte finally tied the game. Trailing 3-4 in the top of the 8th inning with one out, Reyes drew a walk, Jeon Jun-woo hit a single to left field, and pinch-hitter Kim Se-min drew a walk, loading the bases. Ko Seung-min hit a sacrifice fly to center field off relief pitcher Park Young-hyun, scoring one run to tie the game at 4-4.

However, Lotte's hard-fought tie was quickly overturned. In the bottom of the 8th inning, facing relief pitcher Jung Cheol-won, leadoff batter Kim Sang-soo reached base on a lucky infield hit. Kim's hit struck the glove of newly inserted third baseman Kim Se-min and trickled behind him.

Kim Sang-soo's cleverness shone during Yoo Jun-kyu's sacrifice bunt toward third base. As the third baseman, catcher, and pitcher all rushed to field the ground ball, Kim seized the opening at third base. Taking advantage of all three defenders' eyes being fixed on first base, Kim stole third base and scored when Kwon Dong-jin hit a double down the right-field wall. KT took a 5-4 lead.

Park Young-hyun pitched the 9th inning without allowing any runs, securing the game and confirming KT's second-ever Children's Day victory in franchise history.

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*This content was translated by AI.