KT overpowers SSG 5-2 and avenges defeat from the previous day

The KT Wiz rode a strong performance from foreign pitcher William Cuevas and three home runs to victory.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol's KT improved to 11-1 and 19-1 on the season with a 5-2 win in game five of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Sunday. SSG, which failed in its bid for a second straight win, fell to 16-1-1.

Cuevas, who threw 102 pitches, earned his first win of the season with six innings, five hits, two walks, 11 strikeouts and one earned run. It was the first time in 251 days that Cuevas struck out 11 or more batters in a game since Aug. 20 last year against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon (11). At the plate, Kang Baek-ho had a multi-hit performance, including one home run, while Chun Sung-ho and Jang Sung-woo also activated the home run gun.

SSG starter Kim Kwang-hyun suffered his first loss of the season after giving up four runs on eight hits (three home runs) in five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. The offense, which was chased by Cuevas until the middle of the game, settled for two runs.

Starting Cuevas, KT lined up in the following order: Cheon Sung-ho (second base)-Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter)-Mel Rojas Jr. (left field)-Moon Sang-cheol (first base)-Jang Sung-woo (catcher)-Hwang Jae-gyun (third base)-Jo Yong-ho (right field)-Ahn Chi-young (center field)-Kim Sang-soo (shortstop).

SSG lined up in the following order: Choi Ji-hoon (center field)-Choo Shin-soo (right field)-Choi Jung (third base)-Han Yoo-seom (designated hitter)-Guillermo Heredia (left field)-Park Sung-han (shortstop)-Ko Myung-joon (first base)-Lee Ji-young (catcher)-Kim Chan-hyung (second base). The starting pitcher was Kim Kwang-hyun.

KT was the first team to strike first. With the score tied at 0-0 in the top of the second inning, Jang Sung-woo stepped to the plate and on a two-pitch, two-strike count, drove a five-pitch 147 km/h fastball from SSG starter Kim Kwang-hyun over the right-center field fence for a solo arch. It was Jang's fourth home run of the season.

KT's bats were hot in the top of the third inning as well. In the top of the third, Chun Sung-ho, who was facing Kim Kwang-hyun for the second time in as many at-bats, smashed a 145 km/h fastball over the left-field fence for a solo shot. The next batter, Kang Baek-ho, pulled a two-seam 129 km/h slider for a solo shot over the right-center field fence on a one-strike count. The two-batter homer made it 3-0.

With SSG unable to capitalize until the end of the fourth inning, KT scored one more run in the top of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Kim Sang-soo doubled, and after Cheon Sung-ho singled to center field, Kang Baek-ho, who was 스포츠토토 batting with one out and two runners on base, drove in Kim with a single to right field after a six-pitch at-bat. The gap between the two teams widened to four runs.

SSG, which was silent until the end of the fifth inning, made a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning when Choi Ji-hoon led off with a single and Choo Shin-soo walked. Choi Jeong-jeong followed with a double to left-center field to bring home Choi, who was on second base. However, a bases-loaded walk and a double play failed to produce any runs. Han Yoo-seom, Heredia, and Park Sung-sung couldn't close the gap any further as the shortstop grounded out to shortstop, ground out, and strikeout.

KT solidified the win in the top of the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles by Jang Jang-woo and Hwang Jae-gyun and a grounder to the first baseman by Choi Soo-ho, pinch-hitter Kim Min-hyuk lined a single to right field to score Jang Jang-woo from third base.

Trailing 1-5, SSG made a late rally in the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot by Go Myung-joon, but Lee Ji-young grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

KT and SSG will play the final game of their three-game series on the 28th for the Winning Series. Both teams will start Yook Cheong-myeong and Roenis Elias, respectively.

Overall pitcher performance for both teams

-KT: Cuevas 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts, 1 run-Kim Min 1 inning, no hits, no walks, 2 strikeouts, no runs-Kim Min-soo ⅓ inning, no hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, no runs-Son Dong-hyun ⅔ innings, no hits, no walks, 1 strikeout, no runs-Park Young-hyun 1 inning, 1 hit (1 HR), no walks, 1 strikeout, 1 run

-SSG: Kim Kwang-hyun 5 innings, 8 hits (3 HR), no walks, 8 strikeouts, 4 runs -Seo Jin-yong 1 inning, no hits, no walks, no runs -Han Doo-sol 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, no runs - Lee Iro 1 inning, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 1 run -Park Min-ho 1 inning, no hits, no walks, no runs

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