Professional baseball team KT Wiz dealt Hanwha Eagles' star closer Kim Seo-hyun his first runs and loss of the season.
Under manager Lee Kang-cheol, KT won 2-1 in the away game against Hanwha at Hanwha Life Lee Park on the 25th in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League.
Recently breaking a two-game losing streak, KT rose to 14 wins, 12 losses, and 1 tie (win percentage .538), moving up from 5th to a tie for 3rd place. Hanwha, which had lost 2 consecutive games after an 8-game winning streak, marked 15 wins and 13 losses (win percentage .536), dropping from 2nd to 5th place.
In a classic pitching duel, KT emerged victorious. Starting pitcher So Hyung-jun threw 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit, 1 walk, and striking out 10 batters without giving up a run. The only hit against him was a triple hit by YIDO in the 3rd inning, and he mainly relied on his fastball, which reached a top speed of 148 km/h and averaged 145 km/h, mixing in changeups (21 pitches), cutters (19 pitches), and curves (1 pitch).
Hanwha starter Eom Sang-baek also performed well in his first matchup against his former team KT, throwing 6 innings with 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, 6 strikeouts, and allowing just 1 run. The only run given up was a 1-RBI single hit by Kwon Dong-jin in the 4th inning.
KT's 'winning man' Son Dong-hyun, who was on a scoreless streak of 15 games and 15⅓ innings before this appearance, gave up a game-tying solo home run to Hanwha's 4th batter Noh Si-hwan in the 7th inning, but KT managed to score first against Hanwha's closer Kim Seo-hyun in the 9th.
Facing Kim Seo-hyun, who had been scoreless in 13 games and 11⅔ innings before this, Mel Rojas Jr. hit a timely single to right field in the top of the 9th inning, following walks from Yoo Jun-kyu and Kwon Dong-jin with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd base. Rojas took a low fastball thrown by Kim Seo-hyun at 153 km/h on the third pitch, driving in the winning run. KT's closer Park Young-hyun faced a threat in the bottom of the 9th with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd but held on without giving up runs, leading to Kim Seo-hyun's first runs also resulting in a loss.
After the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "Starting pitcher So Hyung-jun did an excellent job on the mound, setting the stage for the victory," although they almost missed the win. He praised So Hyung-jun and then noted, "Son Dong-hyun and Park Young-hyun also did well in tight situations."
Additionally, manager Lee Kang-cheol said, "Kwon Dong-jin's opening RBI brought the atmosphere of the game to our side. We allowed the tying run, but the hitters concentrated in the last chance, and Rojas' insurance point allowed us to secure the victory," adding, "The players worked hard, and I also thank the fans who came out to support us for the away game."
KT aims to extend their winning streak by starting sidearm pitcher Koh Young Technology against Hanwha on the 26th. For Hanwha, which needs to break a two-game losing streak, right-hander Moon Dong-joo will start.
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