'Avila was caught twice' — indeed the 'Iron Magic': 'Aggressive hitting against aces' [Incheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Indeed, it is the 'Iron Magic.' Leading team KT Wiz has once again taken down the 'monster foreign pitcher.' The manager praised the batters for aggressively hitting against the ace.

On the 22nd, KT secured an 8-2 comeback victory over SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field, extending their winning streak to three games and firmly holding onto first place.

The opposing starting pitcher that day was Avila (29, SSG), who had posted a 7-1 record with an ERA of 1.39 up until the previous day, delivering 'monster' performances. Since joining SSG in the second half, he had received praise from other teams as the league's top pitcher.

However, KT's batters did not falter and aggressively attacked Avila from the early innings. In the top of the first, leadoff batter Choi Won-jun hit Avila's first pitch for a double down the right-field line. Following Kim Min-hyeok's sacrifice bunt to the pitcher's mound, which created a runner on third with one out, An Hyun-min grounded into a fielder's choice at second base, allowing KT to take an early 1-0 lead.

Even in the top of the seventh, when trailing 1-2, KT succeeded in breaking down Avila. With runners on first and third and one out, Kwon Dong-jin hit a single up the middle to tie the game. Later, with two outs and runners on first and second, Kim Min-hyeok drove in a single to left field, turning the score 3-2 and forcing Avila's removal from the mound. Avila pitched 6⅔ innings, throwing 102 pitches while allowing six hits, recording eight strikeouts, and surrendering three earned runs.

KT added five more runs in the top of the ninth, including a bases-loaded home run by Hilario, to complete the comeback victory.

This was not the first time KT had brought down Avila. Earlier, on August 23 at an Incheon game, KT also defeated Avila with a 3-1 victory. Avila, who allowed three earned runs over seven innings, suffered his first loss in seven KBO League appearances (four consecutive wins). Although he went on to win three straight games in the next four outings, he faced KT again and became the losing pitcher. Both of his season losses (seven wins) came against KT.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) praised the pitching staff through the team after the game: "The starting pitcher fulfilled his role well and laid the foundation for victory. The relief pitchers who followed also pitched well." He then added, "In the lineup, we aggressively hit against the opposing ace to take an early lead. After allowing a comeback, Kwon Dong-jin's tying RBI and Kim Min-hyeok's go-ahead RBI quickly shifted the momentum of the game."

The manager continued, "We were able to seize control in the top of the ninth with Sang-su Kim's run and Hilario's bases-loaded home run, creating a big inning. I want to thank all the players for their hard work and the fans who came to the away game and enthusiastically supported us."

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*This content was translated by AI.