'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)

Oct 01, 2024

'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Rojas, with no outs and runners on the first and third bases, hits a three-run shot from behind in the bottom of the eighth inning. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/



KT Wiz won the first 5th place match in history, confirming their advance to the wild card match.

KT won the 5th place match against SSG Landers 4-3 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 1st.

The two teams recorded a .507 winning rate of 72 wins, 2 draws and 70 losses side by side in the 144 games schedule that ended by September 30. Tickets for the wild card final are placed, and if the winning rate is tied according to league regulations, a ranking match will be held. The two teams played a single game that had nothing to do with the regular season record.



▶SSG starting lineup =Jihoon Choi(designated hitter)-Jung Joon-jae(second baseman)-Choi Jeong(third baseman)-Eredia(left fielder)-Hanyu Island(right fielder)-Lee Ji-young(catcher)-Park Sung-han(first baseman)-Oh Tae-gon(first baseman)-Jung Hyun-seung(middle fielder) starting pitcher Elias

▶KT starting lineup = Kim Min-hyuk (left wing) - Rojas (right wing) - Jang Seong-wu (catcher) - Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Oh Yoon-seok (second baseman), Hwang Jae-gyun (third baseman) - Bae Jeong-dae (middle fielder)- Shim Woo-jun (striker) starting pitcher Um Sang-baek



As the game was full of tension, it unfolded in the form of a pitching match. In the top of the first inning, Um Sang-baek treated the top batting order from Jihoon Choi to Jung Joon-jae to Choi Jeong of SSG as a three-way offense.

'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Rojas is cheering after hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning with one out. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
However, KT scored the first run with a home run in the bottom of the first inning. In the absence of a one-out runner, second batter Mel Rojas Jr. hit a solo home run over left-center against Roenis Elias. He hit a 151 km fastball in the fourth pitch of the 2B1S, leading to a first solo home run over the left-center fence.



SSG missed a chance to chase in the top of the second inning. After 1 out, Han Yu-sum's hit and Lee Ji-young's dead ball accumulated runners, but the opportunity was canceled as Park Sung-han and Oh Tae-gon stepped down with consecutive ground balls.

However, SSG's 'Table Setter' co-opted the tie. There is no runner with one out in the top of the third inning. Following Jihoon Choi's double as the first batter, Jung Joon-jae's timely hit came out. Jung Joon-jae touched Um Sang-baek's change-up and connected it with a good course hit that fell in front of center field, and second baseman Jihoon Choi came home. a 1-1 tie.

'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Um Sang-baek is coming down from the mound in the top of the fifth inning with two outs and runners on first base. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
Since then, there has been a close tie. In the top of the fourth inning, SSG leadoff hitter Han Yoo-som was caught with a fly ball to right field after a whopping 10 pitches, and subsequent batters also failed to get on base.

KT was also frustrated. Oh Yoon-seok got on base steadily by getting a walk in the fourth inning following a double in the second inning, but he could hardly break down Elias as the follow-up hitters remained silent.

Then at the beginning of the fifth inning. SSG broke the tie balance. After two outs, the table setter's attack began. Jihoon Choi recorded a hit to the right, and KT started to replace the pitcher ahead of Jung Joon-jae's at-bat. Um Sang-baek went down and Cho Hyung-joon was put in.

However, as Jung Joon-jae added a single against So Hyung-joon, the runners accumulated. With two outs and runners on the first and second bases. The next batter, Choi Jung, hit a timely hit by hitting So Hyung-joon's first pitch, two-seam fastball, and Jihoon Choi, who was on the second base, turned the third base and dug home. SSG took the lead 2-1 for the first time in the game.

'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Cho Hyung-joon is catching his breath. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
KT rarely scored an additional run after Rojas' home run in the first inning. They're going to be assigned at the end of the 5th episodeShim Woo-joon and Kim Min-hyuk stepped down with three outs, and even missed the big chance in the sixth inning. After one out, Jang Sung-woo got on base with a hit ball, but Kang Baek-ho struck out three pitches and even Moon Sang-chul was caught on a ground ball to shortstop, leading to silence.

SSG put in the bullpen from the seventh inning after Elias pitched well with two hits (one home run) and two walks and one run with one out in six innings. Noh Kyung-eun took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning and neatly caught hitters with three outs.

In the top of the eighth inning, SSG's eagerly awaited additional point broke out. 'Living Legend' It was Choi Jeong's home run. Choi Jung-eun hit a mid-month home run against Ko Young-pyo in the absence of a one-out runner. He hit Ko Young-pyo's 134-kilometer two-seam fastball and hit a huge home run that hit the top of the structure deep inside the center fence of Wizz Park. The home run allowed SSG to take a breather from one point to two.

'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Rojas, with no outs and runners on the first and third bases, hits a three-run shot from behind in the bottom of the eighth inning. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. SSG Kim Kwang-hyun, who allowed KT Rojas to come from behind to throw a three-run shot at the bottom of the 8th inning with no outs and runners on the 1st and 3rd bases, is regretting. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
'Miracle KT! We're coming!' KT's first-ever fifth-place match to win the WC (Suwon Review)
The game between KT Wiz and SSG Landers in the KBO League's fifth-place match at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st. KT Rojas, with no outs and runners on the first and third bases, hits a three-run shot from behind in the bottom of the eighth inning. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.10.01/
However, KT made a big turnaround in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rojas' come-from-behind three-run home run was hit. When Shim Woo-joon's leadoff hit came out, the SSG bench lowered Noh Kyung-eun and put Kim Kwang-hyun in a surprise move. However, pinch hitter Oh Jae-il hit a hit, and runners piled up.

Kim Kwang-hyun, who faced Rojas on the first and third bases with no outs, was hit by a changeup for the third pitch in 2B, and Rojas fired a dramatic come-from-behind three-run home run over the left-center fence.

KT, which had been dragged after the third inning, turned the game around with just one shot.

KT, which has taken the lead again, has now started to keep it. In the top of the ninth inning, closer Park Young-hyun took the mound. Park Young-hyun struck out Park Sung-han, the first batter, and allowed the next batter, Oh Tae-gon, to hit to the left. Park Young-hyun, who then struck out pinch hitter Choo Shin-soo with a swing and miss, allowed the third base to advance by stealing the opponent's second base and throwing wild pitches. However, he ended the game by striking out the last batter, Jihoon Choi, with two outs and a third base.



youll@sportschosun.com