In the bottom of the 9th inning with one out and bases loaded, a crisis was barely averted! Choi Won-jun hit a go-ahead three-run home run, Logan earned his first win! KT defeats LG 4-3, surging on a four-game winning streak to close the gap to 2.5 games behind [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz defeated LG Twins in their first game of the second half, closing in on the league lead.

On the 16th, KT defeated LG 4-3 in a regular-season away game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this victory, third-place KT, who have won four straight games including three wins in the first half, improved to 47 wins, 1 tie, and 35 losses, narrowing the gap with second-place LG (52 wins, 34 losses) to just 2.5 games.

The turning point came in the bottom of the 9th inning when KT led 4-3. Facing closer Park Young-hyun, LG's Hong Chang-ki and Park Hae-min hit consecutive singles to load the bases with one out. A wild pitch followed, forcing KT to issue an automatic intentional walk to Austin Dean, resulting in a bases-loaded situation with one out.

Song Chan-ui grounded out to first base on a foul fly. Against Moon Bo-kyung, the fifth pitch flew toward his head, leading to a full count. However, Moon's hit ball went straight at the shortstop, and LG ultimately failed to rally, suffering defeat.

In the pitching duel, KT secured a win by decision. Logan Allen of KT pitched five innings, allowing five hits (one home run), two walks, striking out seven, and giving up one earned run to earn his first win of the season. Closer Park Young-hyun, who entered in the bottom of the 9th, shut out the opposition over one inning to record his 18th save of the season. LG's Tollhurst pitched six innings, allowing seven hits (one home run), two walks, striking out four, and giving up four earned runs; despite his efforts, he took his eighth loss of the season (8 wins).

At the plate, KT's focus stood out. Leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun went 1-for-4 with one home run, three RBIs, one walk, one strikeout, and one run scored. Han Seung-taek also contributed with two hits in four at-bats and one RBI. For LG, Austin Dean went 2-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one walk, and one run scored; Oh Ji-hwan went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBIs, and one run scored, but their efforts were overshadowed by the team's loss.

On this day, KT lined up its batting order as follows: Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Ahn Hyeon-min (designated hitter), Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Bae Jung-dae (center fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Logan Allen was the starting pitcher.

LG countered with this lineup: Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Lee Jae-won (designated hitter), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). Anders Tollhurst was the starting pitcher.

The first run belonged to home team LG. In the bottom of the 1st inning with two outs, Austin hit a low cutter from Logan over the left-field fence for a solo home run. The ball traveled 137.2 meters, marking his 28th home run of the season and placing him alone in first place in the Power League Home Run category.

KT responded with a home run of its own. In the top of the 2nd inning with one out, Kim Sang-su drew a walk, and Bae Jung-dae hit a double down the left-field line to load the bases with runners on second and third. Han Seung-taek followed with a single up the middle, driving in one run to tie the game at 1-1. Choi Won-jun then attacked the first pitch from Anders Tollhurst, launching a three-run home run over the right-field fence to take a 4-1 lead. The ball traveled 121.6 meters, his eighth home run of the season.

LG's comeback fell just short. Lee Jae-won's sharp hit in the bottom of the 2nd inning with two outs and a runner on second was caught by third baseman Heo Kyung-min. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with two outs and bases loaded, Moon Bo-kyung grounded out to the shortstop after a full-count battle, leaving behind regret. Even in the bottom of the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and third, Austin was retired on a ground ball to third base.

LG finally began its late rally. In the bottom of the 8th inning with two outs and trailing 1-4, Park Dong-won drew a walk. Oh Ji-hwan then drove a forkball from Sugimoto Kouki over the left-field fence, cutting the deficit to 3-4. LG created a bases-loaded situation with one out in the bottom of the 9th inning to build momentum for a comeback, but Song Chan-ui grounded out to first base on a foul fly, and Moon Bo-kyung grounded out to the shortstop, sealing their defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.