'Kim Hyun-soo's game-winning two-run homer' leads Samsung, but 'Ko Young-pyo's perfect pitching' leaves them with a 0-2 loss to KT! [Daegu On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Leader' Samsung Lions suffered a setback as they were overtaken by second-place KT Wiz, allowing a chase.

On the 9th, Samsung lost to KT 0-2 in a '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' match held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The game was decided by Kim Hyun-soo's two-run home run in the sixth inning.

As a result, Samsung failed to extend its winning streak to four games and faltered, while KT won its second consecutive game, narrowing the gap with leader Samsung from 1.5 games to just 0.5 games.

The home team Samsung fielded an opening lineup in the order of Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Diaz (first baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), and Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop). Starting pitcher was Won Tae-in.

The visiting team KT countered with a lineup of Choi Won-jun (center fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder), Hiliard (left fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (designated hitter), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Ryu Hyun-in (first baseman), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop). Ko Young-pyo started on the mound for KT.

Given the intense pitching duel between 'national team-level pitchers' Ko Young-pyo and Won Tae-in, the game unfolded as a tense pitcher's battle. While the score remained tied at 0-0, KT seized the first opportunity to shift momentum. In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, Hiliard changed the flow. After Samsung requested video review on an initial check-swing call, the umpire ruled it a ball. With a 2-ball count, Hiliard attacked the third pitch and successfully reached base with a ground-rule double to right field.

Here, Kim Hyun-soo broke the scoreless streak. Facing a full count, he did not miss the seventh pitch—a 142 km/h cutter thrown outside the zone—and connected for a powerful hit. The ball soared toward the right-field wall, resulting in a massive two-run home run covering a distance of 114 meters. This was Kim Hyun-soo's 10th home run of the season, giving KT a 2-0 lead.

With offensive support, Ko Young-pyo was unstoppable. He retired the top of Samsung's lineup—Kim Ji-chan, Kim Sung-yoon, and Koo Ja-wook—in order for three up, three down in the bottom of the sixth inning and allowed no runs through the seventh. Having thrown 97 pitches over seven innings, Ko Young-pyo recorded four hits allowed, five strikeouts, and remained scoreless before handing the mound to relief pitcher Son Dong-hyun in the bottom of the eighth.

Samsung failed to break through KT's bullpen duo of Son Dong-hyun and Park Young-hyun and ultimately fell on their knees. In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Koo Ja-wook drew a walk, but Choi Hyung-woo and pinch-hitter Lee Chang-yong were retired without advancing.

Ko Young-pyo earned his 11th win of the season, Son Dong-hyun recorded his 10th hold, and Park Young-hyun secured his 26th save. Among KT batters, Ahn Hyun-min delivered an outstanding performance with three hits, while Hiliard, Ryu Hyun-in, and Kim Hyun-soo each contributed one hit.

Samsung starter Won Tae-in pitched well over six innings, allowing five hits (one home run), striking out three, walking one, and surrendering two earned runs, but he suffered his seventh loss of the season. Choi Hyung-woo was the only Samsung batter to record a multi-hit game, but his effort was overshadowed by the defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.