'Didn't get fooled twice': Daniel's 6 innings of KKKKKKKKK revenge! KT breaks 4-game losing streak against KIA, surges to 5 straight wins

*This content was translated by AI.

'Didn't get fooled twice.' Davis Daniel (29, KT Wiz) took proper revenge on the KIA Tigers who humiliated him exactly six days ago.

KT defeated KIA 6-2 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 12th.

With this victory, KT, now on a five-game winning streak, maintained sole first place with a record of 74 wins, 3 draws, and 46 losses. Fourth-place KIA, with 67 wins, 2 draws, and 56 losses, failed to catch third-place LG. Additionally, this win allowed KT to break its four-game losing streak against KIA that had continued since June 21 this year, extending its home winning streak in Suwon to seven games. The head-to-head record also flipped back in KT's favor at 7 wins and 6 losses.

For Daniel, it was a revenge game. Having joined KT as a replacement for foreign player Caleb Boshley last August, Daniel had previously failed to complete five innings in the prior game on the 6th against Gwangju KIA, allowing three earned runs in three innings. But today was different.

Daniel threw a total of 102 pitches, including a four-seam fastball (39 pitches) clocked up to 148 km/h, changeups (19 pitches), cutters (19 pitches), sweepers (17 pitches), two-seam fastballs (7 pitches), and curveballs (1 pitch). He pitched six innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters, giving up only one earned run to secure his second win of the season (with two losses). This marked his third quality start (a starting pitcher pitching at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs), effectively avenging his previous defeat. Closer Park Young-hyun, who recently became the 28th player in KBO history to appear in 50 consecutive games over five seasons, pitched a scoreless inning.

On the other hand, Neil allowed five hits and four walks while striking out five batters over five innings, giving up three runs (two earned), resulting in his seventh loss of the season (with ten wins). The KT lineup showed even more focus. Choi Won-jun went 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored, while Kim Hyun-soo went 1-for-2 with one RBI, two walks, and one run scored. For KIA, Park Jung-woo recorded four hits in four at-bats with one RBI and one stolen base, but it was not enough to prevent the team's defeat.

Today, KT lined up as follows: center fielder Choi Won-jun, designated hitter Kim Min-hyuk, right fielder Ahn Hyun-min, left fielder Sam Hilleryard, first baseman Kim Hyun-soo, third baseman Heo Kyung-min, second baseman Ryu Hyeon-in, catcher Han Seung-taek, and shortstop Kwon Dong-jin. The starting pitcher was Daniel.

In response, KIA set its lineup as: right fielder Park Jung-woo, left fielder Park Jae-hyun, first baseman Harold Castro, designated hitter Na Sung-beom, second baseman Kim Sun-bin, shortstop Ha Joo-seok, center fielder Kim Ho-ryeong, catcher Kim Tae-gun, and third baseman Kim Gyu-seong. The starting pitcher was Neil.

Both teams traded runs from the first inning. In the top of the first, KIA created a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs after Park Jung-woo's infield single and Park Jae-hyun's double to left-center field. Castro then grounded out to score the first run. In response, KT tied the game in the bottom of the first: Kim Min-hyuk singled to center field, followed by an error on a catch attempt by Kim Gyu-seong that allowed Ahn Hyun-min to reach base, creating a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Kim Hyun-soo then hit a sacrifice fly to left field for one RBI, tying the score at 1-1.

KT immediately took the lead. In the bottom of the second, leadoff batter Ryu Hyeon-in singled to center field, followed by Han Seung-taek's sacrifice bunt and Kwon Dong-jin's ground ball that reached third base. Choi Won-jun then hit a sacrifice fly to center field for one RBI, giving KT a 2-1 lead. KT did not miss the opportunity as Neil struggled. In the bottom of the fifth, pinch-hitter Lee Jeong-hoon drew a walk, and Kim Min-hyuk also walked, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. Ahn Hyun-min then hit a sacrifice fly to left field for one RBI, extending the lead.

A big seventh inning sealed the game. Leadoff batter Choi Won-jun reached base with a double down the left-field line. Kim Min-hyuk bunted him to third base, and during Ahn Hyun-min's at-bat, a fielder's choice allowed KT to add another run. Ahn Hyun-min drew a walk, and although KIA brought in Kim Beom-su to the mound, nothing changed.

Hilleryard singled to left-center field, and Kim Hyun-soo drew a walk, loading all bases. KIA brought in Sung Young-tak to the mound for a second time. Jang Jin-hyuk then drew a bases-loaded walk against Sung Young-tak, and Ryu Hyeon-in hit a sacrifice fly to left field for one RBI, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh alone.

KIA managed to score one run in the top of the seventh against reliever Sugi Moto Kouki: Kim Ho-ryeong doubled down the left-field line, and Park Jung-woo hit a sacrifice fly to center field for one RBI, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

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*This content was translated by AI.