'2:0→2:3→3:6→6:6→7:6→7:7→8:7' Escaping a losing streak is this difficult... After a 216-minute bloodbath, the winning manager shook his head, saying, "It was a tough week; everyone worked hard." [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Professional baseball team KT Wiz escaped a three-game losing streak after a dramatic contest filled with multiple lead changes.

On the 17th, KT defeated the Hanwha Eagles 8-7 in a regular-season home game at the Suwon KT Wiz Park as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this victory, KT, now free from a three-game losing streak, improved to 25 wins, 1 tie, and 16 losses, overtaking the LG Twins (25 wins, 17 losses) to reclaim sole possession of first place. Meanwhile, Hanwha, whose three-game winning streak was snapped, fell to 20 wins and 22 losses, tying with the Doosan Bears (20 wins, 1 tie, 22 losses) for sixth place.

The game remained unpredictable until the very end. In a contest where Ryu Hyun-jin's 200th combined win in Korea and the United States was on the line, both starting pitchers did the bare minimum. Hanwha's Ryu Hyun-jin pitched five innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out three, and giving up two earned runs. KT's Matt Sauer also pitched five innings, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out six, and giving up three earned runs.

Both teams' bullpens could not withstand the fierce hitting lines. Hanwha seemed to seize control after scoring three runs in the fourth inning and two in the seventh, extending their lead to three runs. However, the game turned when Yoon San-heum surrendered three consecutive walks in the bottom of the seventh, giving up three runs in just one-third of an inning.

KT's closer Park Young-hyun also recorded a blown save. With KT leading 7-6 in the top of the 9th inning with one out and a runner on first, Park gave up consecutive walks to pinch-hitter Choi In-ho and Hwang Young-mok, creating a bases-loaded situation. A fly ball to center field by Kim Tae-yeon allowed the runner from third to score, tying the game at 7-7. However, in the bottom of the 9th with one out and runners on first and third, pinch-hitter Lee Jung-hoon hit a sacrifice fly to right field, ending the long 3-hour and 36-minute contest.

KT, which played six consecutive home games this week, endured a particularly difficult stretch. As seen in the scores against SSG Landers during the midweek series—an 18-4 victory and a 10-16 defeat—the team endured a high-scoring series, finishing with one win and two losses. They also lost two consecutive games against Hanwha, falling into their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Even the winning manager, who finally ended the week with a hard-fought victory, shook his head in disbelief. After the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol praised his team, saying, "All players had a strong will to break the losing streak. They displayed their best concentration and led the game to victory. It was a tough week, and all the players worked very hard."

He also expressed gratitude to the fans who filled the stadium to its 18,700-seat capacity for the ninth time this season. Manager Lee Kang-cheol added, "I am grateful to the fans who enthusiastically cheered for us in a full house throughout the weekend series."

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*This content was translated by AI.