KT refuses to yield the top spot! '7th and 8th consecutive big innings + Ko Young-pyo's 10th win' KT crushes LG 16-4 → retains first place [Jamsil On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz escaped a series sweep threat and firmly secured its precarious top position in the standings.

In an away game against LG at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 20th as part of the '2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League,' KT trailed 1-3 but staged a dramatic comeback, scoring 16 runs to win 16-4 thanks to Kim Min-hyuk's bases-clearing hit in the 7th inning.

Before today's game, KT (62 wins, 2 ties, 41 losses, .602 winning percentage) had fallen into a two-game losing streak and was being closely pursued by second-place Samsung Lions (63 wins, 2 ties, 42 losses, .600 winning percentage), trailing by just 0.002 in winning percentage with no room for error. Had KT lost today, it would have surrendered the top spot, but a explosive offensive performance snapped the losing streak and added a crucial victory to maintain sole first place.

KT's starting lineup for the day featured: Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), An Hyeon-min (right fielder), Hilliard (left fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Ryu Hyeon-in (second baseman), Lee Jung-beom (designated hitter), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Ko Young-pyo was named the starting pitcher.

LG countered with a lineup featuring: Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), and Hong Chang-gi (right fielder). Right-handed pitcher Park Si-won was set to start.

KT took the early lead. In the top of the 1st inning, leadoff batter Choi Won-jun reached base via a walk after a full-count battle. As Kim Hyun-soo grounded out to second base, Choi advanced to second, creating a scoring opportunity with one out and runners on first and second. Following An Hyeon-min's hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases with one out, fourth hitter Hilliard delivered a two-run single up the middle, giving KT a 1-0 lead.

LG responded in the bottom of the 4th inning to shift momentum. After one out, Song Chan-ui opened the scoring with a single to left field following a five-pitch at-bat. Moon Bo-kyung then followed, hitting Ko Young-pyo's fifth pitch (a 120.2 km/h curveball) on a 2-ball, 2-strike count for a towering two-run home run over the right-field fence (his ninth of the season), instantly turning the score to 2-1 in LG's favor.

LG's offense showed no signs of stopping. Oh Ji-hwan, the next batter, also capitalized on a 1-ball, 2-strike count, hitting Ko Young-pyo's fourth pitch (a 122.5 km/h changeup) over the right-field fence for a solo home run (his ninth of the season). With consecutive home runs from Moon Bo-kyung and Oh Ji-hwan, the score quickly jumped to 3-1.

However, in the top of the 7th inning, KT completed a big inning to stage another comeback. After one out, Choi Won-jun and Kim Hyun-soo drew consecutive walks against left-handed pitcher Kennedy. During An Hyeon-min's at-bat, runner Choi Won-jun successfully stole third base, and An also drew a walk, loading the bases.

LG quickly brought in right-hander Kang Heung-woon as a relief pitcher, but his control wavered. Hilliard received a bases-loaded walk to narrow the gap to 5-3. In the continued bases-loaded situation, KT's strategic move paid off: pinch-hitter Kim Min-hyuk launched a three-RBI double down the left-center field gap, giving KT a 5-3 lead.

Momentum fully shifted to KT. Ryu Hyeon-in added another run with a one-RBI double to left-center field. A wild pitch followed, creating a one-out, bases-loaded situation where Lee Jung-beom hit a sacrifice fly to center field, extending the lead to 7-3. KT had already scored six runs in the top of the 7th inning alone.

KT entered the bottom of the 8th inning with its winning pitcher on the mound to secure the victory, but exploded again in the top of the 8th. Battering out seven hits across multiple at-bats, KT scored seven more runs in consecutive big innings, pushing the score to 14-3. They added two more runs in the top of the 9th to seal the game. Although LG managed one run in the bottom of the 9th with bases loaded, it had no impact on the final outcome.

KT starter Ko Young-pyo earned his 10th win (with six losses) of the season, pitching six innings while allowing six hits (including two home runs), striking out six batters, walking one, and surrendering three earned runs. Relief pitchers Joo Kwon, Lee Sang-dong, and Kim Jeong-won successfully maintained the lead. Offensively, Hilliard contributed with two hits in three at-bats, two walks, and three RBIs, while Ryu Hyeon-in added two hits in five at-bats and two RBIs. Choi Won-jun also went 2-for-5 with two walks, reaching base four times.

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

*This content was translated by AI.