The KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) had the last laugh in extra innings.
KT won 12-8 against the Kiwoom Heroes at the Gocheok SkyDome on April 18, thanks to Moon Sang-chul’s game-winning home run. With the win, KT has now won five straight games since the 12th against Sajik Lotte. Kiwoom, on the other hand, has lost five in a row since its last game against Changwon NC on Dec. 12.
KT, which started national team sidearm Ko Young-pyo on the mound against the Giants, had the following starting lineup: left fielder Mel Rojas Jr, designated hitter Kang Baek-ho, second baseman Kim Sang-soo, first baseman Oh Jae-il, catcher Jang Seong-woo, center fielder Bae Jae-dae, third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun, shortstop Shim Woo-joon, and right fielder Jung Jun-young.
Kiwoom’s batting order was Lee Joo-hyung in center field, Ronnie Dawson in left field, Song Sung-moon at third base, Kim Hye-sung at second base, Choi Joo-hwan at first base, Won Sung-joon at designated hitter, Park Joo-hong at right field, Kim Tae-jin at shortstop, and Kim Gun-hee at catcher. Right-hander Ha Young-min got the start.
Kiwoom had runners on second and third in the first inning after back-to-back singles by Lee Ju-hyung and Dawson and an error. Song Sung-moon singled up the middle to score the first run. Kim Hye-sung singled to left center to score another run. Choi Joo-hwan’s infield single loaded the bases, and Won Sung-joon’s push bunt made it 3-0.
Kiwoom added two more runs in the second on consecutive singles by Lee Ju-hyung, Dawson, and Song Sung-moon and a sacrifice fly to center field by Kim Hye-sung. With runners on second and third in the top of the seventh with a five-run lead, Kim launched a three-run arch to left field.
KT got one run back in the eighth when Kim Min-hyuk singled and Rojas Jr. doubled to right-center field. Kang Baek-ho singled to left field, but Kwon Dong-jin walked 사설 토토사이트 and Oh Jae-il singled to load the bases. Kang Hyun-woo drew a full-count walk and soon followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 3-8. In the ninth inning, Kang Hyun-woo’s push bunt and Choi Byeong-dae’s grand slam tied the game at 8-8. In the bottom of the ninth inning, tied at 8-8, Kiwoom put runners on first and second with a leadoff single to right by Won Sung-joon and a sacrifice bunt by Park Soo-jong. Kiwoom’s bench brought in Lee Hyung-jong in place of Kim Tae-jin. KT also avoided a head-to-head matchup with Lee Hyung-jong. Kim Jae-hyun struck out and Lee was thrown out at the plate on an infield fly ball. No runs scored.
KT won 12-8 in the bottom of the 10th inning on Moon Sang-chul’s two-run arch to left-center, Kang Hyun-woo’s push-bunt single and Choi Jae-dae’s sacrifice fly to center field.
KT starter Ko Young-pyo was charged with five runs on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings, but was bailed out by the bats. Choi Jae-dae had six hits, including a grand slam, and Jang Sung-woo completed a three-hit game. Kwon Dong-jin had two hits and three runs scored, while Kang Baek-ho had two hits and two runs scored.
Kiwoom starter Ha Young-min came off the mound looking for his seventh win of the season with six innings of three-hit ball, two walks and four strikeouts, but had to swallow his disappointment as the bats fell apart. Lee Ju-hyung (6-for-6, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored), Dawson (6-for-6, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored), Song Sung-moon (6-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run scored), Kim Hye-sung (3-for-2, 2 RBI), and Choi Ju-hwan (6-for-3, 1 RBI) all had solid performances at the plate, but were overshadowed by the loss.