The Wizard Corps put an end to the Tiger Corps' four-game winning streak by putting forward an alternate starter.
The professional baseball team KT Wiz won 5-3 against the KIA Tigers in the fourth game of the season held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 20th.
KT secured the series victory while escaping a five-game home losing streak, recording 22 wins, 3 draws, and 23 losses for the season. Meanwhile, KIA, whose first five-game winning streak of the season was thwarted, fell from a .500 win percentage after two days. 22 wins, 23 losses. The six-game winning streak in Suwon and the rising momentum of seven consecutive wins on Tuesday were also halted.
Cho Yi-hyun, who became part of KT through the 2023 recruitment test, made his debut as an alternate starter for the first team while So Hyung-jun took a rest. He pitched 5⅓ innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 3 while conceding 1 run, earning his first win of the season. It was his first starting win after 257 days since the match against the Lotte Giants on Sept. 5 of last year. Cho Yi-hyun attracted attention as the player who handed KBO League's first loss to the 2023 regular season MVP Eric Peddy.
Following Cho Yi-hyun, Won Sang-hyun (⅔ inning, 1 run), Kim Min-soo (1 inning, no runs), Son Dong-hyun (1 inning, no runs), and Park Young-hyun (1 inning, 1 run) took the mound, with Park Young-hyun achieving his 14th save of the season.
In the batting lineup, Hwang Jae-kyun and Kang Baek-ho delivered multi-hits, while Jang Sung-woo hit a two-run homer that led to the victory.
KT manager Lee Kang-chul noted after the game, "Starter Cho Yi-hyun made a really good pitch in a difficult situation for the team, setting the stage for the victory. The bullpen pitchers that followed also did well, minimizing the runs. Congratulations to Cho Yi-hyun on his first win of the season."
He added, "In the batting lineup, we succeeded in taking the lead with Kang Baek-ho's RBIs during a crucial chance that nearly fell through in the first inning, and Jang Sung-woo's two-run homer brought us the momentum. I want to commend Kang Baek-ho's performance, who recorded RBIs at critical moments in the first and fifth innings. Thank you to the players for their hard work and to the fans for their support."
KT will attempt to extend their winning streak on the 21st with local ace Go Young-pyo on the mound. KIA has foreign pitcher Adam Oller scheduled to pitch.
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