KBO Recap: KT Wiz 5-2 Lotte Giants | September 13 Highlights & Scores

Game Summary

The KT Wiz made their case for the pennant race with a decisive 5-2 victory over the visiting Lotte Giants on Saturday evening at KT Wiz Park. The win extended KT’s commanding lead atop the regular season standings and dealt another blow to Lotte’s fading playoff hopes. Though the Giants scratched out runs in the early innings, they simply couldn’t match the Wiz’s offensive firepower, particularly when it mattered most.

After trading early shots, the game shifted decisively in KT’s favor once their bats warmed up. The Wiz’s approach at the plate was clinical and patient, working counts while the Giants’ defense crumbled around starter Na Gyun-an. By the time the dust settled in the fifth inning, KT had built enough separation to coast home with the win.

Pitching Performance

Na Gyun-an took the loss for Lotte, surrendering five runs—all earned—on eleven hits over five innings. The right-hander struggled with his command early and never quite found his rhythm, allowing the Wiz to string together consistent contact. He fanned five batters but couldn’t prevent the damage, particularly Hilliard’s two-run blast in the fifth that essentially put the game away.

KT’s starter So Hyung-jun earned the win with a solid six-inning outing. The southpaw gave up just two runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking only one. He didn’t dominate, but he was efficient enough to keep Lotte at arm’s length through the middle innings. The Wiz’s bullpen proved reliable down the stretch, with Sugimoto handling a tricky seventh and closer Park Young-hyun sealing the final frame without incident. Young-hyun’s save marked another strong appearance in what has been a dependable late-inning role.

Offensive Highlights

The Giants managed to scratch together two runs but lacked the consistency their opponent displayed throughout the night. Reyes went 3-for-5 with an RBI, the game’s most productive effort from a Lotte hitter. Hwang Sung-bin added a triple in the fifth and drove in a run, while Na Seung-yeop reached base twice. It wasn’t enough firepower to keep pace with the Wiz’s balanced attack.

KT’s lineup was balanced and opportunistic. Kim Min-hyuk led the way with three hits in four at-bats, establishing early momentum with a double in the first inning. An Hyun-min drove in two runs and added a stolen base, showcasing the kind of all-around contribution the Wiz have relied upon all season. Kim Sang-soo and Choi Won-jun each registered two hits as well, spreading the offensive load. But it was Hilliard’s solo blast that provided the most memorable moment—a two-run homer off Na in the fifth that shifted the entire complexion of the game.

Key Play of the Game

The turning point arrived in the first inning when An Hyun-min lined a single into left field with a runner on second and one out. That hit opened the floodgates and set the tone for the rest of the evening. An also stole a base later in the contest, embodying the aggressive baserunning KT has employed to climb atop the standings.

Hilliard’s two-run homer in the fifth, however, proved to be the decisive blow. With Na’s control already wavering, the slugging American delivered the knockout punch, extending KT’s lead to 5-1. Lotte never mounted a realistic comeback after that.

Standings Impact

With this victory, KT improved to 75-3-46 and firmly established themselves as the team to beat in the final weeks of the regular season. Their cushion over the second-place team remains formidable, and performances like these suggest they’ll be difficult to catch.

For Lotte, the loss dropped them to 53-2-69 in ninth place—a troubling position with the postseason window rapidly closing. The Giants’ playoff hopes, already tenuous heading into September, appear to be slipping away with each passing day. They’ll need a dramatic turnaround to claw their way back into contention.