'Magic Number 8': KT smashes 20 hits and scores 12 runs in explosive victory over Doosan, 12-6... Choi Won-jun records 5 hits; Bae Je-seong delivers 6 innings of scoreless quality start

*This content was translated by AI.

In the KBO League, KT Wiz erased previous disappointments with a perfect harmony between pitching and hitting on the previous day (the 26th), reducing their magic number for the regular season title to '8'.

On the 27th, KT defeated the Doosan Bears 12-6 in an away game at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium during the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

As a result, KT improved to 81 wins, 4 draws, and 49 losses, extending their lead over second-place Samsung Lions (78 wins, 3 draws, 52 losses), who had no game on the same day, by three games. Meanwhile, Doosan's two-game winning streak ended, leaving them at 67 wins, 5 draws, and 63 losses, maintaining fifth place.

Leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun and starting pitcher Bae Je-seong led the team to victory with outstanding performances in both hitting and pitching. Choi went 5-for-6 with two RBIs and one run scored, driving the KT lineup. Bae allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four over six scoreless innings, achieving his third quality start of the season (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs) and securing his third win (with two losses).

KT unleashed a barrage of 20 total hits, completely dismantling Doosan's pitching staff. In addition to Choi, Jang Sung-woo went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBIs, three runs scored, and one walk; Sam Hilliard recorded two hits in five at-bats with two RBIs; Han Seung-taek went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored; Ryu Hyun-in collected two hits in four at-bats with two RBIs and two runs scored; and Jang Jun-won went 2-for-5 with one RBI.

Doosan mounted a comeback starting from the seventh inning, scoring six runs, but it was not enough to overcome the 12th-point deficit. It was encouraging that substitute pitcher Park Ji-hoon recorded one hit in one at-bat with one RBI and one walk for multiple baserunners; Jeon Da-min went 1-for-1 with two runs scored; and Im Jong-seong delivered a single with two RBIs in one at-bat.

On this day, KT lined up its batting order as follows: Choi Won-jun (center field), Kim Hyun-soo (first base), Ahn Hyeon-min (right field), Sam Hilliard (left field), Jang Sung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Sang-su (second base), Ryu Hyun-in (third base), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Jang Jun-won (shortstop). Bae Je-seong was the starting pitcher.

In response, Doosan set its lineup as Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Jung Soobin (center field), Kim Min-seok (left field), Ahn Jae-seok (third base), Yunion Severino (designated hitter), Kang Seung-ho (second base), Yang Seok-hwan (first base), Ryu Seung-min (right field), and Kim Ki-yeon (catcher). Choi Seung-yong was the starting pitcher.

KT seized early momentum by pounding Doosan's pitching staff. In the bottom of the second inning, Hilliard led off with a single to right field, Jang Sung-woo drew a walk, and Kim Sang-su executed a sacrifice bunt, resulting in one out with runners on second and third bases. Ryu Hyun-in followed with a two-run single to right field, Han Seung-taek delivered a two-run single to left field, Jang Jun-won hit a two-run double down the left-field line, and Choi Won-jun capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle, continuing the relay scoring.

A wild pitch by Choi Seung-yong allowed the runner from third base to score at home plate, giving KT a 5-0 lead. Kim Hyun-soo's well-hit ball was fielded by Ahn Jae-seok, who touched third base, ending the long bottom of the second inning.

Jang Sung-woo kept the momentum going with a home run. Facing new pitcher Yoon Tae-ho in the top of the third inning, he targeted the first pitch; Hilliard singled to right field, and Jang connected with a two-run homer over the left-field fence. In the top of the fourth inning, with one out and a runner on second base, Choi Won-jun delivered a two-run single to left field, extending the lead to 8-0.

Ahead of the sixth inning defense, Doosan made numerous substitutions among its regular players in hopes of a turnaround. KT paid no attention and continued to extend their lead: Ahn Hyeon-min hit a two-run single up the middle with two outs and runners on first and second in the top of the sixth; Ryu Hyun-in followed with a two-run double to center-left field with one out and a runner on second in the top of the seventh; Han Seung-taek then launched a two-run homer over the left-field fence, widening the gap to 12 runs.

Doosan finally showed late resilience. Against substitute pitcher Kim Min-su in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Park Ji-hoon hit a two-run single up the middle to cut the deficit by one run. In the bottom of the eighth against Jeon Yong-joo, Kim Min-seok drew a walk, and Ahn Jae-seok hit a double down the right-field line, forcing out the pitcher. However, Severino was retired on a sacrifice fly to center field for one RBI by new pitcher Ju Kwon, and Oh Myung-jin hit a two-run double into the right-field stands, bringing the score closer by two runs.

Even against KT's temporary closer Kim Jeong-won in the ninth inning, Park Ji-hoon and Jo Su-haeng drew walks, and Jeon Da-min singled up the middle to load the bases. Im Jong-seong then hit a two-run double down the left-field line, and Severino grounded out for one RBI, adding three more runs. However, Kim Jeong-won retired Oh Myung-jin on a fly ball to center field, sealing KT's victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.