"My reactions were slow," Manager Lee Kang-cheol also expressed self-blame: KT, with 90 wins, suffered four consecutive losses after one win... A hollow runner-up finish in the Korea Series [KS On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The image of the strongest team, which had secured 90 wins in the regular season, was hard to find in the Korea Series (KS). The trusted starting rotation wavered, the bullpen could not hold up, and the defense collapsed at every critical moment. KT Wiz, which had dreamed of a unified championship for the first time in five years, ended up with a hollow runner-up finish. Lee Kang-cheol (60), manager of KT, also acknowledged that he was dissatisfied with his own game management.

On the 8th, at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, KT suffered a heavy 1-12 defeat against the Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven). After winning Game 1 with an 8-7 score, KT lost four consecutive games, falling to a series record of one win and four losses, and ceded the championship trophy to Samsung.

At the post-game press conference, Manager Lee revealed, "I think my reactions were a bit slow. The pitching changes were unavoidable situations, and I made them quickly, but I feel we were a bit late in using pinch-hitter cards on the batting side. It is regrettable."

The decisive factor in this Korea Series was cited as the loss in Game 2. In Game 1, KT led 8-0 through six innings but was chased to within one run at 8-7 due to consecutive bullpen errors, barely securing a win. In Game 2, despite Go Yeong-pyo's strong performance of seven innings and one earned run, the game remained close until KT lost 2-3 in the 12th inning of extra innings.

Manager Lee reflected, "In Game 1, we created an 8-0 score but struggled to finish the game. Game 2 was also difficult, but we had opportunities." He added, "It was a game we could have won, but we failed to close it out at the end. I think failing to take that game is the reason for our loss in this series."

Afterward, KT struggled to turn things around. In Game 3, So Hyoung-jun allowed five walks early on and gave up four runs. In Game 4, starting pitcher Logan Allen collapsed with six runs allowed in one inning. Notably, in Game 4, the pitching staff allowed 12 base-on-balls and hits, setting a Korea Series single-game team record for the most such occurrences.

In Game 5, the defense completely fell apart. Trailing 1-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, KT gave up a staggering eight runs due to consecutive errors by the infielders. This was an ignominious record, tying for second-most runs allowed in a single inning in Korea Series history.

The lineup, which had ranked first in team batting average, runs scored, and on-base percentage in the regular season, also failed to deliver. Injuries to key hitters compounded the issue, breaking the offensive connection. In Game 5, they managed only four hits and one run.

However, KT's achievements this season cannot be denied. KT achieved its first-ever 90 wins with a record of 90 wins, five draws, and 49 losses in the regular season. By winning all of their final 10 games, they secured the top spot in the regular standings for the first time since 2021, a span of five years.

Manager Lee also did not forget the efforts of his players. He stated, "We advanced to the Korea Series with good results this year and finished the season by setting club records for 90 wins and a 10-game winning streak." He added, "It is disappointing that we could not show our true form at the end and concluded it this way."

He continued, "But over the past year, the front office, players, and coaching staff all worked very hard and did an excellent job. They really did well." He also conveyed, "Congratulations to Samsung on their championship."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original