Game Summary
The KT Wiz continued their dominant season on Friday night, holding off a spirited Hanwha Eagles comeback to secure a 7–4 victory at home. The win marked KT’s 59th of the year, cementing their firm grip on first place in the KBO standings. What looked like it might become a runaway for the Eagles early became a tightly contested affair by the final innings, but the Wiz’s early offensive outburst proved just enough to weather Hanwha’s late-game surge.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanwha Eagles | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| KT Wiz | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
The Eagles entered the contest hoping to make a dent in the KT lead, but instead found themselves chasing from the opening moments. Kim Sang-soo’s go-ahead single in the third inning with the bases loaded set the tone for what would become a KT offensive showcase. Though Hanwha answered with some timely hitting of their own, including two homers that brought them within striking distance, they ultimately fell one swing short of completing the comeback.
Pitching Performance
Bae Je-sung earned the victory for KT, allowing four runs on seven hits across five innings of work. The right-hander wasn’t overly sharp but managed to escape several tight spots, walking two and striking out three. His command wavered occasionally, but he made the key pitches when Hanwha put runners in scoring position.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanwha Eagles | ||||||
| Zimmerman [L] | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Sang-Gyou Lee | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jo Dong-wook | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Jang Yu-ho | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kang Jae-min | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| KT Wiz | ||||||
| Bae Je-sung [W] | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Son Dong-hyun [H] | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Woo Gyu-min [H] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sugimoto [H] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Park Young-hyun [S] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The Eagles’ Zimmerman took the loss despite a relatively brief outing. Working just four innings, he surrendered seven runs on eight hits, unable to find a rhythm from the start. Hanwha’s bullpen showed more stability, with Lee Sang-gyu, Cho Dong-wook, Jang Yu-ho, and Kang Jae-min combining to retire nine batters without allowing another run. That effort kept the game competitive down the stretch.
KT’s relief corps was efficient, with Son Dong-hyun, Woo Gyul-min, and Sugimoto combining for three hitless innings. Park Young-hyun closed things out for the save, scattering one hit across the final frame to secure the result.
Offensive Highlights
Heo In-seo was the star performer for Hanwha at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run batted in. The Eagles’ power man connected off Bae in the fourth inning to briefly threaten KT’s lead. Noh Si-hwan added another solo shot in the same inning, demonstrating that the Eagles’ lineup was far from powerless.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanwha Eagles | |||||
| Lee Won-seok | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Noh Si-hwan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chae Eun-sung | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Heo In-seo | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Lee Do-yoon | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| KT Wiz | |||||
| Ahn Hyun-min | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Sang-soo | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Oh Yun-suk | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Han Seung-taek | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jang Jun-won | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Chae Eun-sung was a picture of consistency for the Eagles, finishing 4-for-4 in a rare perfect night at the plate. His batting line didn’t produce runs, but he kept the line moving and gave his team extra opportunities. Lee Do-yoon also contributed with two hits across three at-bats.
For the victorious Wiz, Oh Yun-seok drove in three runs, including a critical pair off Bae’s counterpart. Kim Sang-soo’s clutch single through the right side in that third-inning rally proved decisive. Han Seung-taek added a hit as well, part of an overall solid performance from the KT lineup that capitalized on early chances.
Key Play
The pivotal moment came in the third inning when Kim Sang-soo stepped up with the bases loaded and nobody out. His line drive single to right field scored two runs and gave KT a 4–0 advantage. That play essentially decided the game. Though Hanwha refused to go quietly, mounting threats in the fourth and beyond, they were never able to fully erase that early deficit. An error by Jang Jun-won in the ninth inning kept things interesting momentarily, but it wasn’t enough to alter the final outcome.
Standings Impact
With this win, KT improved to 59–2–36, maintaining their commanding lead atop the KBO standings. The Wiz have built a comfortable cushion and are now positioned favorably as the regular season winds toward its conclusion. Hanwha, falling to 47–3–49 in sixth place, will need a significant run to contend for playoff positioning. The Eagles still have baseball to play, but nights like this underscore just how much ground they have yet to make up.