'Back to Joint First Place' KT Secures Victory with '9 Runs Against Koo Chang-mo'... "Top and Bottom of the Lineup Showed Full Concentration, Bringing Complete Momentum" [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Although they struggled recently with three wins and seven losses in their last 10 games, they ultimately climbed back to the joint top spot. It was a satisfying victory achieved through perfect harmony between offense and defense.

KT Wiz, led by manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), defeated NC Dinos 10-5 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 23rd.

With a two-game winning streak, KT improved their record to 27 wins, 18 losses, and 1 tie, matching the Samsung Lions who lost that day, and jumping back to joint first place.

Facing NC, who started with ace Koo Chang-mo, KT's lineup exploded from the beginning, securing an easy victory and making the win even more significant. Sugimoto Kouki, who had been underperforming and struggling to find playing opportunities, was utilized effectively. With a large early lead, the team was able to play the game with ease.

KT took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a go-ahead RBI single by Kim Min-hyuk. After conceding one run in the top of the second, they immediately regained the lead. In the bottom of the second, consecutive hits by Heo Kyung-min and Han Seung-taek were followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kwon Dong-jin, and then Choi Won-jun's speedy infield single extended the lead to 2-1.

In the third inning, KT built a big inning against the shaky Koo Chang-mo and NC's defense. They loaded the bases with four hits, two walks, and a wild pitch, allowing Koo to surrender eight runs. Even after he was pulled, they added another run against Son Ju-hwan, quickly reaching double-digit scoring.

Especially, Kim Min-hyuk and Choi Won-jun both recorded four hits, leading the team to victory together. After the game, manager Lee Kang-cheol praised the lineup's performance, stating, "Kim Min-hyuk's lead-off RBI and Choi Won-jun's additional RBI set the tone for the game. After that, the top and bottom of the lineup showed consistent concentration, allowing us to secure a complete victory during the big inning."

Even Sauer, who had shown a disappointing performance as a foreign pitcher, secured his third win of the season (with two losses) thanks to ample run support. Although he allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings, his pitching was more than sufficient to secure the victory. Manager Lee noted, "Today, starting pitcher Sauer fulfilled his role, and the middle relievers also closed out the game well."

Even Sugimoto, who had said before the game that he was resting due to a lack of opportunities, was utilized. In 26 games, his ERA reached 6.45, and particularly in the game against Samsung on the 19th, he failed to record an out, allowing four runs before being pulled. However, with the lineup pulling ahead by a large margin, he was inserted in a comfortable situation and shut down the opposition for 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit.

KT climbed back to joint first place. Manager Lee expressed gratitude to the fans, saying, "The players worked hard, and thanks to the many fans who visited the stadium for the weekend games, we were able to secure this victory."

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*This content was translated by AI.