'Six-run ninth inning' KT's jackpot, comeback from 1-3 to 7-3 in the final frame → seven-game winning streak! An Hyeon-min and Park Young-hyun battery closes out scoreless

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The first game after the heatwave break turned into a jackpot match. KT Wiz, trailing until the eighth inning, scored six runs in the ninth to secure a miraculous comeback victory.

On the 11th, at Changwon NC Park, KT defeated the NC Dinos 7-3 in an away regular-season game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With this win, KT, now on a seven-game winning streak, became the first team to reach 60 wins with a record of 60-2-36. Historically, teams that reached 60 wins first have a 77.8% chance (28 out of 36 times) of finishing first in the regular season and a 63.9% chance (23 out of 36 times) of winning the Korean Series. NC remained in seventh place with a record of 43-2-51.

The turning point came in the bottom of the ninth inning when KT trailed 1-3. Facing pitcher Lim Ji-min, leadoff batter An Hyeon-min reached base on an error by second baseman Park Min-woo's fielding play. Sam Hilliard walked, and Kim Min-hyuk lined a single to left field on the first pitch. Left fielder Lee Woo-seong failed to catch Kim Min-hyuk's ball cleanly, allowing An Hyeon-min to score at home plate.

NC brought in Yoo Yong-jun to the mound to try to shift momentum. Yoo got Kim Sang-soo out with a fly ball to right field and intentionally walked Heo Kyung-min on four pitches. However, substitute batter Ryu Hyun-in's batted ball hit the umpire and deflected for an infield single, tying the game 3-3.

Kwon Dong-jin grounded out after fouling off Yoo Yong-jun's first pitch, but Choi Won-jun drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly to right field on a low inside pitch, giving KT the lead. Although pitcher Im Jeong-ho replaced Yoo, nothing changed. Instead, Kim Hyun-soo walked on straight pitches, and An Hyeon-min doubled in two more runs with a sacrifice fly to left field, extending the lead.

The issue was the defensive situation in the top of the ninth. KT had already substituted both Han Seung-taek and Jo Dae-hyeon, leaving them without a catcher. As a result, An Hyeon-min, who joined KT as a catcher, wore his second professional catcher's mask. This was his first time catching since the June 24 game against Suwon SSG Landers.

His battery chemistry with Park Young-hyun, whom he joined the team with through the rookie draft, was excellent. An Hyeon-min effectively handled Park Young-hyun's outside sliders and fastballs, helping him retire the side in order without allowing any runs to finish the game.

KT starting pitcher Logan Allen was credited with a loss despite pitching 5⅔ innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five and giving up three earned runs. NC starter Riley Thompson did not earn the win after pitching six innings, allowing two hits (one home run), walking two, striking out nine, and surrendering one earned run. Kim Min-hyuk was KT's only player with multiple hits, and reliever Woo Kyu-min, who entered in the eighth inning and pitched ⅔ innings on just 11 pitches, secured his first win of the season.

NC's Lim Ji-min took the fifth loss (three wins) of the season after a combination of fielding errors and bad luck, allowing one hit and three runs (one earned) in zero innings. Kim Ju-won and Park Geon-woo both recorded multiple hits but could not celebrate.

For NC, it was regrettable that they failed to add any runs after scoring three in the first inning. Leadoff batters Kim Ju-won and Park Min-woo reached base with singles to left field, advancing to second and third with a double steal for one out. The first run came on a ground ball by Blaine, and Park Geon-woo followed with a sacrifice fly to right-center field and then stole second base to put runners in scoring position. Kim Hwi-jip then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field, creating the big inning.

That was all they could manage. Instead, KT tied the game with a solo home run by Kim Hyun-soo in the top of the fourth and eventually scored six runs in the ninth to achieve a dramatic comeback victory.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original