[SPOTV News — Suwon, Reporter Choi Won-young] Kang Min-ho shook off a difficult stretch in one night.
The Samsung Lions rallied to beat the KT Wiz 8-6 at Suwon’s KT Wiz Park on April 4 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, extending their winning streak to four games.
The lineup was Kim Ji-chan (CF), Kim Sung-yoon (RF), Gu Ja-wook (LF), Lewin Diaz (1B), Choi Hyeong-woo (DH), Ryu Ji-hyuk (2B), Lee Jae-hyun (SS), Kim Young-woong (3B) and Kang Min-ho (C). Starter Choi Won-tae took the mound for Samsung.
Kang batted ninth for the first time since June 5, 2009, when he was with the Lotte Giants against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil — only the second time he’s hit ninth in his pro career. Entering the game 0-for-15, he made a statement: 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including the go-ahead hit.
Diaz was 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. Ryu Ji-hyuk went 3-for-4 and scored three runs. Choi Hyeong-woo finished 1-for-5 with a solo homer and an RBI. Kim Sung-yoon exited early with left flank discomfort, and Lee Jae-hyun left with right hamstring tightness; both are scheduled for further medical evaluation.
Starter Choi lasted five innings, allowing seven hits, three walks and one hit batsman while striking out eight and surrendering five runs; he took a no-decision. He threw 92 pitches (58 strikes), relying on a four-seam fastball (45 pitches) and mixing in 18 changeups, 16 cutters, seven two-seamers and six curveballs. His four-seam topped out at 151 km/h (about 94 mph) and his two-seam at 149 km/h (about 93 mph).
Reliever Lee Seung-min worked 2/3 of an inning of scoreless relief to pick up a hold. Miyaji Yura allowed one run in one inning. Right-hander Lee Seung-hyun tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and earned the win. Closer Choi Ji-kwang closed out a perfect ninth for the save — his first since June 14, 2019, against KT in Daegu, ending a 2,486-day drought.
Samsung struck first in the top of the 1st. After Kim Ji-chan’s single, Diaz jumped on the second pitch from KT starter So Hyeong-jun — a 142 km/h (about 88 mph) cutter — and launched a 128.4-meter (about 421 ft) opposite-field two-run homer, his second of the season, to make it 2-0. In the 2nd, Ryu’s single set the table and Kang followed with an RBI double to right-center for a 3-0 lead.
Choi then gave up five runs in the bottom of the 2nd as Samsung fell behind 3-5. The Lions chipped away in the 4th when Choi Hyeong-woo crushed So’s first pitch — a 138 km/h (about 86 mph) cutter — into a 134.5-meter (about 441 ft) opposite-field solo homer, cutting the deficit to 4-5. Ryu’s double to left-center and Lee Hae-seung’s sacrifice bunt produced a 2-out, bases-loaded opportunity, and Kang’s RBI single to center tied the game at 5-5.
In the 5th, Gu Ja-wook’s double to left put a runner in scoring position with one out, and Diaz followed with an RBI single to center to give Samsung a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Miyaji yielded a solo homer to Ahn Hyun-min, knotting the score at 6-6.
In the top of the 8th, after Ryu’s right-field single, Kim Young-woong ripped a double to the top of the wall in right-center. With runners at second and third and one out, Kang delivered a two-run single to center to put Samsung up 8-6.
After the game, manager Park Jin-man praised Kang’s performance: “Min-ho did it all tonight. He’s had a lot on his mind, but once he got that first hit he kept producing and delivered the big RBI. I expect him to keep swinging well.” Park also singled out Diaz and Ryu for leading the offense.
Park said he went out to the mound in the 9th to calm Choi Ji-kwang, telling him, “Don’t try to overpower hitters — attack with purpose and confidence.”
He added, “Lee Seung-hyun also pitched extremely well. His stuff looks noticeably better. The bullpen protected the lead and prevented a comeback, which made this win possible.”
