'Samsung-KIA, whoever you are, come on' Daniel throws 5-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts + Hilliard hits 1 home run and drives in 3 runs! KT explodes for 9 hits and 7 runs despite two-week game-time gap! Sweeps Military Baseball Team 7-0 [Suwon On-Site Review]

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The KT Wiz, who finished first in the regular season, showed perfect harmony between pitching and batting from their first game, defying a nearly two-week gap without competitive play. Starting pitcher Daniel Davis (30) threw a monstrous 5-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts, while Sam Hilliard (32) showcased his enduring hitting form with two extra-base hits, including a go-ahead two-run homer.

KT, led by manager Lee Kang-cheol (60), secured a 7-0 victory in a practice game against the Military Baseball Team at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 27th to prepare for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League Korea Series (KS).

KT finished the regular season with a record of 90 wins, 5 draws, and 49 losses (winning percentage .647), claiming their first regular season title in five years since 2021. They will challenge for the club's second combined championship in the Korea Series starting on November 2.

This game was KT's first competitive outing in 16 days, following their final regular season game on the 11th. Both teams rotated through 10 batters at the plate, and the game proceeded until the bottom of the ninth inning even with the home team KT leading, played in a manner characteristic of practice games.

The standout player was undoubtedly Daniel. Starting pitcher Daniel allowed not a single hit over five innings, recording 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 10 strikeouts to throw a no-hitter without allowing runs. He threw only 62 pitches. Centered around his sinker fastball (24 pitches), which reached a top speed of 146 km/h, he mixed in sweepers (15 pitches), cutters (9 pitches), changeups (8 pitches), four-seam fastballs (5 pitches), and curves (1 pitch). His stable control was notable, with as many as 41 strikes.

The start was overwhelming. Daniel struck out leadoff batter Jung Hyun-seung in the top of the first inning, then retired Lee Tae-kyung and Park Ji-hwan with consecutive infield grounders. He completed a three-out inning in just 10 pitches. In the top of the second, after one out, he walked Lee Seong-hyun and hit Lee Seong-won with a pitch, facing a bases-loaded situation with runners on first and second. However, he recorded Kim Beom-jun with a flyout to center field and struck out Shin Yong-seok, preventing any runs from scoring.

After that, no one could stop Daniel. In the top of the third, he struck out Yang Do-geun, Kim Gyu-min, and Jung Hyun-seung in succession. In the top of the fourth, he recorded three consecutive strikeouts against Lee Tae-kyung, Park Ji-hwan, and Jang Jae-young. It was a streak of seven consecutive batters struck out. In the top of the fifth, he retired the side in 8 pitches to complete his assignment.

On the offensive side, Hilliard shone brightly. Hilliard, who won the RBI championship this season with 44 home runs and 139 RBIs, activated his power from his first at-bat. In the bottom of the first inning, after two outs, An Hyun-min (23) drew a walk against Military starter Jin Seung-hyun in an 8-pitch count. Following that, No. 4 hitter Hilliard launched a go-ahead two-run homer over the right-field fence. It was a blow that immediately put KT ahead 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, the lower order of the lineup stepped up. Kim Sang-soo's walk, Heo Kyung-min's groundout to shortstop, Han Seung-taek's line drive single to right field, and Jang Jun-won being hit by a pitch kept the opportunity alive. Then Choi Won-jun hit a two-RBI double down the right-field line, extending the lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the third, An Hyun-min and Hilliard joined forces again. With leadoff batter An Hyun-min reaching on a single to center field, Hilliard hit an RBI double over the right fielder's head. The score widened to 5-0. An Hyun-min reached base in his first two at-bats with a walk and a single, while Hilliard swept up three RBIs with a home run and a double.

A long stretch of zero runs followed. However, KT seized the momentum by adding two runs in the bottom of the seventh, including Bae Jeong-dae's go-ahead one-RBI double. The pitching staff remained steady as well. Following Daniel, Jeon Yong-ju, Woo Gyu-min, Kim Jung-un, and Park Young-hyun took the mound in succession, combining for 5 strikeouts over four innings to complete a scoreless victory.

KT will play two more practice games against the U-23 national baseball team at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 28th and 30th at 6 p.m. Afterwards, they will take the field for Game 1 of the Korea Series on November 2 at the same venue against the winner of the KIA Tigers-Samsung Lions playoff series.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original