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| Heo Kyung-min / Photo=DB |
KT beat LG 6-5 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League matchup.
The victory gave KT a sweep of the opening series after its win on the 28th, while LG pushed back its hunt for a first win of the year.
KT starter So Hyeong-jun worked three innings, allowing seven hits, one strikeout and two walks while yielding three runs, exiting without a decision.
So threw 83 pitches — 3 four-seamers, 5 curveballs, 10 changeups, 34 cutters and 31 two-seamers — with a top velocity of 149 km/h (92.6 mph).
Offensively, Heo Kyung-min and Kim Sang-soo each collected three hits. Heo delivered the big blow, drilling a two-run homer that tied the game and finishing with three RBIs.
LG starter Im Chan-kyu lasted five innings, giving up six hits, one strikeout and two walks while allowing three runs; he also left without a decision.
Im threw 80 pitches — 31 four-seamers, 18 curveballs, 9 sliders and 22 changeups — topping out at 143 km/h (88.8 mph).
KT struck first. In the top of the first, leadoff hitter Choi Won-jun singled and, after a failed steal attempt, Kim Hyun-su walked. Ahn Hyun-min followed with a two-run double to put KT on the board.
With one out and a runner on second, Hilliard struck out, but Jang Sung-woo drove in another with an RBI double. Kim Sang-soo added a run with a single and Heo tacked on an RBI single to push KT ahead 3-0.
LG, quiet in the first two innings, rallied in the third. Hong Chang-gi singled and advanced to second on a center-field error. Shin Min-jae moved him over with a productive out, and Austin’s RBI double cut the deficit.
After Park Dong-won drew a walk, Moon Seong-ju’s RBI single and Oh Ji-hwan’s RBI double evened the game at 3-3.
LG then took control. In the bottom of the fourth, Park Hae-min was hit by a pitch and stole second. Hong Chang-gi’s grounder to first produced a one-out, runner-on-third situation.
Shin struck out, but walks to Austin and Moon Bo-kyung loaded the bases. Park Dong-won then drew a bases-loaded walk to put LG ahead, and Moon Seong-ju followed with an RBI single to make it 5-3.
KT answered in the sixth with a momentum-changing homer. With two outs and a runner on first, Kim Sang-soo singled, and Heo hammered a 131 km/h (81.4 mph) slider from reliever Kim Jin-seong over the left-field wall for a two-run shot to tie the game.
LG missed chances after surrendering the tying run. In the seventh, Moon Seong-ju singled and stole a base to put himself in scoring position, but the rally stalled and the game remained deadlocked.
KT squandered another opportunity in the eighth. After two outs, Jang Sung-woo walked, Kim Sang-soo singled and Heo walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Ryu Hyun-in struck out looking at Yu Young-chan’s 147 km/h (91.3 mph) fastball, and KT left the bases full.
The persistence paid off in the ninth. Back-to-back singles by Lee Jung-hoon and Choi Won-jun put runners at first and third with no outs. Kim Hyun-su hit to left field, and while the outfielder fielded it, Kwon Dong-jin scored to put KT back in front.
With the lead, KT turned to Park Young-hyun to close. Park allowed a leadoff single to Austin but induced Moon Bo-kyung to fly out to left.
He then struck out Park Dong-won swinging but conceded a steal by pinch-runner Choi Won-young, creating a threat. Park remained composed and finished the game by getting Moon Seong-ju to pop out to shortstop.
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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