Seven players hit multiple hits, totaling 20 hits in a massive explosion! KIA crushes KT 11-5, finishing the six-game series against the top two teams with four wins and two losses. [Suwon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The KIA Tigers achieved a winning series for the second consecutive time, powered by the formidable offensive firepower of seven players hitting multiple hits.

On the 21st, KIA defeated KT 11-5 in a regular-season away game at the Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this result, KIA secured a winning series with a record of two wins and one loss, maintaining fourth place with 38 wins, one tie, and 33 losses. By achieving winning series against both first-place LG Twins and second-place KT this week, KIA concluded the feared six-game series with four wins and two losses. Second-place KT, with 41 wins, one tie, and 28 losses, fell three games behind first-place LG Twins (45 wins, 26 losses), who also won on the same day against the Doosan Bears.

The KIA lineup's offensive power was overwhelming. Regardless of the batting order, they unleashed 20 hits, both long and short, battering the KT mound. Park Jae-hyun went 3-for-5 with two runs scored; Na Sung-beom went 3-for-4 with one walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored; Harold Castro went 2-for-4 with three RBIs; Kim Sun-bin went 2-for-5 with one RBI; Han Jun-su went 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored; Byun Woo-hyuk went 2-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, and one run scored; Jung Hyun-chang went 2-for-2 with one run scored; and pinch-hitter Kim Kyu-sung went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and one run scored.

The turning point came in the bottom of the seventh inning when KIA trailed 2-5. Leadoff hitters Han Jun-su and Byun Woo-hyuk reached base with consecutive left-field hits. Kim Min-gyu, who replaced Han Jun-su as a leadoff runner, shone with his speed. After stealing second base, Kim Min-gyu reached third base on Kim Kyu-sung's sacrifice fly to center field, which scored one run. On Kim Ho-ryeong's sacrifice fly to center field, which also scored one run, Kim Min-gyu easily crossed home plate.

Park Jae-hyun and Kim Do-young followed with consecutive right-field hits, creating scoring opportunities with runners on first and third. Kim Do-young stole second base, and Na Sung-beom drew a walk to load the bases. Castro then hit a two-run single to center field, and Kim Sun-bin hit a one-run single to right field, instantly turning the game around.

Thanks to this, starting pitcher Kim Tae-hyung, who gave up four hits (including two home runs), one walk, one strikeout, and three earned runs over two innings, avoided the loss. Shirakawa Keisho, who entered in the second inning, pitched four innings, allowing three hits, three walks, striking out five, and giving up two earned runs to secure his second win (with two losses). Kwak Do-gyu (one inning), Choi Jimin (one inning), and Jeon Sang-hyun (one inning) also kept the scoreless innings intact to preserve the victory.

Logan Allen, a foreign investor making his debut as a temporary replacement for KT, pitched five innings, allowing six hits (including one home run), no walks, striking out six, and giving up two earned runs for a solid performance. Lee Sang-dong, who followed, gave up two earned runs in one inning, and Son Dong-hyun gave up three earned runs in one inning, failing to do their part. Offensively, only Choi Won-jun stood out, going 2-for-4 with one home run, one RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base, while the team managed only seven scattered hits.

Meanwhile, the Suwon KT Wiz Park was filled to its 18,700 seats starting at 4:10 p.m., 50 minutes before the game began. This marks the 14th sellout of the season.

On this day, KIA lined up with Kim Ho-ryeong (center field), Park Jae-hyun (left field), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Na Sung-beom (right field), Harold Castro (first baseman), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-su (catcher), Byun Woo-hyuk (third baseman), and Park Min (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Kim Tae-hyung.

In response, KT lined up with Choi Won-jun (right field), Kim Min-hyuk (left field), Ahn Hyun-min (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (center field), Lee Jung-hoon (first baseman), Ryu Hyun-in (second baseman), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Kim Tae-hyung.

Home team KT successfully took the early lead with home runs. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun crushed the first pitch from Kim Tae-hyung, who was positioned in the middle of the plate, sending it over the right-field fence. This was his sixth home run of the season, traveling 124.9 meters, and marked his second career home run as a leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning. It was the first time a leadoff hitter hit a home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning this season.

Kim Min-hyuk drew a walk, and Ahn Hyun-min hit into a double play. However, Hilliard once again targeted the first pitch, hitting a home run that struck the center-field scoreboard. This was his 16th home run of the season, traveling 127.7 meters.

KIA also launched a counterattack. In the top of the second inning, Na Sung-beom reached base with a right-field hit and advanced to second base on Castro's ground ball. On Kim Sun-bin's ground ball, KT first baseman Lee Jung-hoon dropped the ball, putting runners on first and third. Han Jun-su then hit a one-run single to right field, scoring one run. However, Han Jun-su was thrown out attempting to steal second base, and Byun Woo-hyuk struck out swinging, ending the inning.

KT extended their lead by one more run in the third inning. Against reliever Shirakawa, Choi Won-jun reached base with a right-field hit. While Kim Min-hyuk was at bat, Choi Won-jun stole second base and then third base on a wild pitch. During Ahn Hyun-min's at-bat, another wild pitch allowed Choi Won-jun to score, giving KT a 4-1 lead.

However, as Shirakawa held firm, KIA found its opportunity. In the top of the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Byun Woo-hyuk hit a solo home run over the center-field wall. KIA, which scored five runs in the seventh inning, added four more in the eighth to secure the winning series. On the previous day (the 20th), KT managed to score only one run in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on second base, thanks to Oh Yun-seok's one-run single to center field, despite their offensive firepower being largely ineffective.

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*This content was translated by AI.