If the starter allows 5 runs, scoring 8 runs is enough to win. Lotte clinched their 3rd consecutive victory by overpowering KT with their batting lineup.
The Lotte Giants won 8-5 against KT Wiz in the 4th match of the season of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 10th.
Lotte has recently achieved 3 consecutive wins and 4 straight victories on the road, recording 23 wins, 1 draw, and 16 losses for the season. In contrast, KT has fallen into a 4-game losing streak, now at 18 wins, 2 draws, and 19 losses. Their winning percentage collapsed for the first time in 34 days since the match against Incheon SSG Landers on the 6th of last month.
On their away trip, Lotte structured their starting lineup against KT's starter Koh Young Technology with Yun Dong-hee (right fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Victor RAY (left fielder), Na Seung-yeob (first baseman), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (third baseman), Yoo Gang-nam (catcher), Jang Du-seong (center fielder), and Lee Ho-jun (shortstop).
In response, KT faced Lotte's starter Na Kyun-an with Kim Min-hyuk (center fielder), Hwang Jae-kyun (third baseman), Mel Rojas Jr. (left fielder), Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Kwon Dong-jin (shortstop), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), and Cheon Seong-ho (second baseman).
The first game of the doubleheader was canceled due to rain in Suwon. The first run of the second game was scored by Lotte. In the first inning, Yun Dong-hee and Ko Seung-min, the table setters, created opportunities with back-to-back hits, setting the table with no outs at first and third base, and while Victor RAY grounded into a double play to second and short, the runner at third, Yun Dong-hee, scored.
KT quickly responded. In the bottom of the first, lead-off batter Kim Min-hyuk sparked the inning with a single to left. Hwang Jae-kyun and Rojas were both retired in order, but with two outs and runners at second and third, Ahn Hyun-min hit an RBI double to tie the game, followed by Kang Baek-ho's go-ahead RBI single. Jang Seong-woo contributed with a single to left that continued the momentum, while Kwon Dong-jin hit a timely single up the middle for an additional RBI. The continued opportunity with two outs and runners on first and second ended when Moon Sang-cheol popped out to the right fielder.
Lotte did not stay quiet. In the top of the second, after two outs, Yoo Gang-nam hit a double, Jang Du-seong reached on a fielding error by second baseman Cheon Seong-ho, and Lee Ho-jun walked after an 8-pitch battle, filling the bases. Then, Yun Dong-hee hit a two-RBI single to left, leveling the score at 3-3.
In the top of the third, lead-off batter RAY hit a double, and Jeon Jun-woo had a single to right, putting runners at first and third with one out. Following a wild pitch, Jeon Jun-woo advanced to second, and Son Ho-young lifted a sacrifice fly that broke the tie at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, KT's power hitting exploded. Lead-off batter Ahn Hyun-min hit a game-tying solo homer, and after Kang Baek-ho grounded out to third, Jang Seong-woo hit a go-ahead solo homer.
Ahn Hyun-min targeted the fourth pitch of Na Kyun-an's at-bat, a forkball (126 km) on a 2B-1S favorable count, launching a massive home run that traveled 144.1 meters to left. It was his 5th home run of the season, coming after four games since facing the Kiwoom Heroes on the 4th.
Jang Seong-woo, on a 2B-2S count, hammered Na Kyun-an's fifth pitch, a low fastball (145 km), over the left field fence. It was his 3rd home run of the season, coming 18 days after facing the SSG Landers on April 22.
The Lotte batting lineup exploded in the top of the fifth. It started with a game-tying solo home run from lead-off batter Ko Seung-min. Although he was down 0B-2S against Koh Young Technology, he skillfully crushed a changeup (115 km) that had dropped low and inside, just clearing the right field fence. It was his first home run of the season.
Although RAY and Na Seung-yeob went down in consecutive outs, Lotte's offensive instincts would not be extinguished. In the scoring chance created by Jeon Jun-woo's double, Son Ho-young hit an RBI single to reclaim the lead, and following a balk by Koh Young Technology, with runners on first and second due to Yoo Gang-nam's walk, Jang Du-seong delivered a timely single to left that chased Koh Young Technology from the game. Following that, Lee Ho-jun hit an RBI single on the very first pitch from the new pitcher Kim Min-soo.
KT saw lead-off batter Moon Sang-cheol and Hwang Jae-kyun get on base with singles to center in the bottom of the sixth, reigniting their hopes, but in the situation with two outs and runners on first and second, pinch hitter Kim Byeong-jun faced a looking strikeout against Han Hyun-hee.
In the bottom of the seventh, they felt regret for missing opportunities in scoring situations. Lead-off batter Ahn Hyun-min reached with a single to left, and Kang Baek-ho walked. However, Jang Seong-woo popped out to center and Kwon Dong-jin struck out swinging, while Moon Sang-cheol grounded out to third to end the inning.
Lotte's starter Na Kyun-an pitched 3 innings, allowing 8 hits (2 home runs), issuing 1 walk, and striking out 1, with 5 earned runs on 71 pitches, falling short of his first win again. It was his 8th consecutive game without a victory. Following him, Kim Kang-hyun (1⅓ innings, no earned runs), Jeong Hyun-soo (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Kim Sang-soo (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Han Hyun-hee (⅓ inning, no earned runs), Song Jae-young (0 innings, no earned runs), Jeong Cheol-won (1⅔ innings, no earned runs), and Kim Won-jung (1⅓ innings, no earned runs) took over, with Kim Won-jung achieving double-digit saves for the 6th consecutive year.
In the batting lineup, a total of 7 players including Yun Dong-hee, Ko Seung-min, RAY, Jeon Jun-woo, Son Ho-young, Yoo Gang-nam, and Jang Du-seong recorded multi-hit games.
In contrast, KT's starter Koh Young Technology pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing 11 hits (1 home run), issuing 2 walks, and striking out 3, with 8 runs (6 earned) on 93 pitches, suffering his 3rd loss of the season (with 2 wins). Ahn Hyun-min's 4 hits, including a home run, did not shine. He had a stellar performance, missing only a triple for a cycle.
The two teams will face off again on the 11th at the same location beginning at 2 p.m.
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