KBO Recap: KT Wiz 9-6 Hanwha Eagles | September 02 Highlights & Scores

Game Summary

The KT Wiz outlasted the Hanwha Eagles in a back-and-forth slugfest on Tuesday evening, capturing a 9-6 victory at home. Both teams came to play offensively, trading blows throughout the contest, but KT’s ability to scratch out runs in crucial moments—particularly a go-ahead two-bagger in the seventh inning—proved to be the difference in September baseball where every win carries weight.

Hanwha struck early and often, with power hitting carrying much of their offensive load. Yet the Eagles couldn’t sustain their momentum through nine innings. KT’s relief corps tightened the screws down the stretch, and their lineup kept chipping away at the deficit until they finally broke through for the lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Pitching Performance

Hanwha’s Hyun-jin Ryu took the ball for the Eagles and worked five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five. The right-hander kept things competitive early, but KT’s offense gradually wore him down. Park Sang-won came out of the bullpen for a clean sixth, but the wheels came off for Hanwha in the late innings when relief pitchers couldn’t locate strikes or keep runners off base.

For KT, Hyung-jun So matched Ryu’s five-inning effort, giving up four runs on eight hits. So wasn’t overly sharp but did enough to keep his team within striking distance. The Wiz’s bullpen proved far more effective down the stretch. Yong-ju Jeon earned the win, tossing a scoreless frame, while Sugimoto struck out three in an inning of relief. Zimmerman took the loss after recording just one out while allowing two runs and a walk—a rough outing in a tight situation.

Offensive Highlights

Baek-ho Kang provided the loudest moment early for Hanwha, launching a three-run blast in the fifth inning off Hyung-jun So to give the Eagles a brief lead. The home run kept Hanwha’s hopes alive, but it wasn’t enough to sustain their advantage through nine innings.

Min-hyeok Kim delivered when it mattered most for KT, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a triple. His two-bagger in the seventh inning served as the go-ahead hit that put the Wiz in front for good. Hilliard chipped in with two hits and a solo homer in the eighth, extending KT’s cushion. The visitor’s offensive barrage late—with Young-min Yu and Jung-hyun Park both going deep in the ninth—made the final score look more lopsided than the actual game flow suggested.

Key Play of the Game

With one out and a runner on first in the seventh inning, Min-hyeok Kim ripped a double down the right field line that scored the tying run and sent what would become the eventual game-winner to second base. The two-bagger shifted momentum decisively toward KT, and Hanwha’s pitching staff couldn’t recover. That single swing of the bat—a line drive hit with runners in scoring position—exemplified the difference between the two teams’ ability to execute when opportunities presented themselves.

Standings Impact

The victory pulls KT further clear in the second-place standings, improving their record to 68 wins and 43 losses. With 25 games remaining in the season, the Wiz continue their chase toward the top spot. Hanwha, meanwhile, drops to 49-64 and stays entrenched in ninth place, their playoff hopes continuing to fade as September unfolds. Every game matters for both clubs now, though for different reasons: KT battles for position in the playoff picture, while Hanwha simply fights for respectability.