'Scary' KT, 6 Runs in the Bottom of the 9th Inning Reverses a 5-Point Deficit! Hilliard's Game-Winning Hit: '4:3→4:9→10:9' Thrilling Comeback Victory [Suwon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

More than fierce, it was terrifying. KT Wiz overturned a game where they were trailing by five runs through the top of the 9th inning to secure a thrilling comeback victory.

KT staged a massive 6-run inning in the bottom of the 9th at the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 20th, coming from behind to defeat the KIA Tigers 10-9.

KT, who dramatically snapped a two-game losing streak, maintained a two-game lead over first-place LG Twins with a record of 41 wins, 1 tie, and 27 losses. KIA, whose winning streak was halted at three games due to the shocking comeback loss, remained in fourth place with a record of 37 wins, 1 tie, and 33 losses.

It was a bottom of the 9th inning filled with shock and fear. With KIA leading 9-4, closer Sung Young-tak, who posted an ERA of 1.78, took the mound.

It was not a good start. Leadoff batter Sam Hilliard hit a solo home run over the fence on the first pitch, and Kim Min-hyuk hit a double down the left-field line after a 12-pitch at-bat.

Ryu Hyun-in drew a walk, and Oh Yun-seok hit a single to left field. Although left fielder Park Jae-hyun appeared to make a diving catch on Oh Yun-seok's hit, video review ruled it a one-bounce catch, correcting the situation to one out with runners on first and second, and bases loaded with no outs.

But KT had Ahn Hyun-min. Heo Kyung-min reached on a hit-by-pitch, and Ahn Hyun-min hit a two-run single to center field to tie the game. Ahn Hyun-min stole second base to put himself in scoring position, and Hilliard's hit struck the shortstop's glove, resulting in a two-run single that reversed the four-hour game for KT.

The starting pitcher duel failed to meet expectations for both teams. KIA's Hwang Dong-ha recorded 3 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch, 3 strikeouts, and 4 runs (2 earned), but avoided the loss. KT's Bae Je-seong pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 3 runs (2 earned), recording his third loss of the season. KT's batting lineup saw Sam Hilliard go 2-for-5 with 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored, and Kim Min-hyuk go 2-for-4, but their efforts were overshadowed by the team's loss.

KT's lineup today consisted of Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (center fielder), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Ryu Hyun-in (third baseman), Oh Yun-seok (second baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Starting pitcher was Bae Je-seong.

KIA countered with Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Na Sung-beom (designated hitter), Harold Castro (first baseman), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Kim Kyu-seong (shortstop), and Park Jung-woo (right fielder). Starting pitcher was Hwang Dong-ha.

The first run belonged to visiting team KIA. They seized a good opportunity in the top of the 2nd inning. KT second baseman Oh Yun-seok failed to field leadoff batter Na Sung-beom's grounder on the first try, allowing him to reach base. Castro hit a single to center field, and Han Jun-soo drew a walk to create a bases-loaded situation with one out. Kim Kyu-seong batted the ball outside and hit a two-run single to left field. Park Jung-woo drew a walk, giving KIA a 2-0 lead.

Kim Do-young hit a two-run single to center field in the top of the 4th inning with two outs and runners on first and second, attacking Sugimoto's first pitch. In the top of the 5th inning, with KIA trailing 3-4, Kim Sun-bin and Han Jun-soo reached base with consecutive hits, and Kim Kyu-seong drew a walk to create a bases-loaded opportunity with one out. Park Jung-woo hit a bases-loaded walk to tie the game 4-4, and Kim Ho-ryeong retired on a swinging strikeout.

Park Jae-hyun then did not miss Hwang Dong-ha's inside pitch to Sugimoto Kouki, hitting a three-run triple through the gap between center and right field. In the top of the 7th inning with one out and runners on second and third, Na Sung-beom hit a two-run single to center field, scoring nine runs.

KT regretted scoring only one run in the bottom of the 3rd inning with bases loaded and no outs. Kwon Dong-jin drew a walk, Choi Won-jun hit a single to left field, and Kim Hyun-soo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ahn Hyun-min drew a bases-loaded walk to score one run. However, Hilliard struck out, Kim Min-hyuk hit a foul pop-up to the catcher, and Ryu Hyun-in grounded out to second base, failing to tie the game.

KT made up for the previous inning's disappointment with a big inning in the bottom of the 4th. With two outs and runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Lee Jung-hoon hit a two-run single to left field. Ahn Hyun-min drew a walk, and two more runners entered the base on an opponent's error, scoring three runs.

KIA held off KT's fierce comeback through the 8th inning with a winning relief corps of Jeong Sang-hyun (1 inning), Kwak Do-gyu (1 inning), Jo Sang-woo (1 inning), and Jung Hae-young (1 inning), allowing no runs. In the bottom of the 9th, closer Sung Young-tak inadvertently created a bases-loaded situation with no outs, and relief pitcher Kim Beom-soo also allowed consecutive two-run singles, leading to KIA's shocking comeback loss.

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*This content was translated by AI.