The winner of the tight pitching duel was KT, which made the 8th inning a promised inning.
The professional baseball team KT Wiz won 5-1 against the KIA Tigers in the 8th game of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 31st.
KT has achieved a winning series early in the weekend three-game series, marking their third consecutive win. Their season record stands at 30 wins, 3 ties, and 25 losses. They have succeeded in five consecutive winning series since the game against the LG Twins in Jamsil on the 17th and 18th (including the doubleheader). In contrast, KIA, which has lost two consecutive games, has a record of 26 wins, 1 tie, and 28 losses.
The home team, KT, set its starting lineup against KIA's starting pitcher Yoon Young-chul with Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Kim Sang-su (shortstop), Ahn Hyun-min (designated hitter), Mel Rojas Jr. (right fielder), Jang Sung-woo (catcher), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Heo Gyeong-min (third baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), and Oh Yun-seok (second baseman).
KIA faced KT's starting pitcher So Hyung-jun with Yoon Do-hyun (second baseman), Hong Jong-pyo (third baseman), Oh Seon-woo (right fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Seok-hwan (left fielder), Han Joon-soo (catcher), Hwang Dae-in (first baseman), Kim Kyu-seong (shortstop), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder). Starting shortstop Park Chan-ho was excluded from the lineup for rest management, leading to Yoon Do-hyun making his debut as a starting leadoff.
Both teams suffered from missed opportunities in the 2nd inning. In the top of the 2nd inning, KIA created a scoring chance with a fortunate double by Han Joon-soo toward the right fielder after one out, but Hwang Dae-in popped out to center field, and Kim Kyu-seong grounded out to the third baseman. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, KT's leadoff Jang Sung-woo, followed by Moon Sang-cheol and Heo Gyeong-min, walked in succession for a bases-loaded situation with no outs, but Bae Jeong-dae hit a shallow fly ball to center field, Oh Yun-seok struck out swinging, and Kim Min-hyuk grounded out to the first baseman, resulting in silence.
The first run was scored by KT. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Rojas hit a lead-off solo home run. Having established a favorable count of 2 balls and 1 strike, Rojas connected with Yoon Young-chul's fourth slider (122 km) to hit a home run over the left field foul pole. The distance was 121.5m. This was Rojas' 8th home run of the season, coming after 12 games since the doubleheader against the LG Twins on the 17th.
Rojas, who ranks second in career home runs among foreign batters in professional baseball, reported his 172nd home run, narrowing the gap to 2 behind the leader, Tyrone Woods, who has 174.
KIA, having missed a chance with runners on third base and two outs in the 4th inning, equalized the score in the top of the 5th. After one out, Kim Ho-ryeong and Yoon Do-hyun hit consecutive singles to set up runners on first and second base. Hong Jong-pyo struck out looking on the third pitch, but an error on a throw to first base by second baseman Oh Yun-seok allowed the runner Kim Ho-ryeong to reach third base and score a tying run. However, the continued opportunity with two outs and runners on second and third base ended as Choi Hyung-woo flied out to right field.
KT's sixth inning began with a leadoff double from Rojas and a walk from Jang Sung-woo, placing runners on first and second base with no outs. However, pinch hitter Kwon Dong-jin flied out to left field, Heo Gyeong-min struck out swinging, and pinch hitter Jang Jin-hyeok flied out to left field, ending the inning without scoring. In the 7th inning, after one out, Kim Min-hyuk walked on the 11th pitch, and Kim Sang-su's bunt followed by a missed opportunity as Ahn Hyun-min struck out swinging against the new pitcher Jo Sang-woo.
KIA found another opportunity in the top of the 8th. After one out, Oh Seon-woo hit a double that struck the top of the left-center field wall, and then Choi Hyung-woo reached base on an automatic intentional walk. However, Kim Seok-hwan struck out looking, and pinch hitter Lee Woo-seong grounded out to the third baseman against the new pitcher Park Young-hyun.
The crucial moment came in the bottom of the 8th. After one out, Jang Sung-woo and Kwon Dong-jin calmly drew walks, and Heo Gyeong-min hit a 1-RBI double into the left field corner against Jo Sang-woo. It was the go-ahead hit. Later, during Jang Jin-hyeok's groundout to first base, first baseman Hwang Dae-in chose home, but third base runner Kwon Dong-jin scored with a perfect slide to avoid the tag.
KT did not stop there, adding to their lead with a 1-RBI single by Oh Yun-seok that made up for his error and a 1-RBI single by Kim Sang-su.
KT's starting pitcher So Hyung-jun pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 walks, striking out 6, and allowing 1 earned run (unearned) on 92 pitches, while KIA's starting pitcher Yoon Young-chul pitched 5 innings, giving up 2 hits (1 home run), 5 walks, striking out 5, and allowing 1 earned run on 88 pitches, but both failed to secure a win. The winning pitcher was Park Young-hyun, and the losing pitcher was Jo Sang-woo.
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