The KT Wiz started the series on a high note with an extra-inning victory over the Samsung Lions.
KT won 8-5 away from home against Samsung in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, South Korea, on April 21.
With the win, KT moved up to seventh place with 20 wins, one draw, and 28 losses, while Samsung improved to 26 wins, one draw, and 20 losses.
KT’s Mel Rojas Jr. went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs in the win. KT starter Cheong-Myung Yuk pitched five innings, allowing one run on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts, but was left without a win. Son Dong-hyun earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief.
Samsung starter Won Tae-in allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Kim Jae-yoon took the loss, giving up three runs (one earned) on one hit, one walk and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
KT struck first in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of back-to-back singles by Rojas and Kim Min-hyuk to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Samsung quickly answered back. In the bottom of the second inning, Lee Jae-hyun singled and Oh Jae-il doubled, and with runners on second and third, Kang Min-ho hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
KT’s focus shone two innings later. With two outs in the top of the third, Kang Baek-ho doubled and Moon Sang-chul singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Jang Jang-woo and Hwang Jae-gyun followed with back-to-back singles to score two runs and regain the lead at 3-1.
From there, the game became a pitcher’s duel.
It was KT again that broke the silence. In the top of the seventh, Rojas doubled and Kim Min-hyuk singled to put runners on first and third. Kang Baek-ho, who came up to bat in the at-bat, hit a grounder to shortstop that was misplayed by the shortstop, allowing KT to score one more run.
KT added a run in the top of the eighth inning when Hwang Jae-gyun and Oh Yoon-seok singled and Park Byung-ho walked to load the bases and 먹튀검증 Rojas scored on a wild pitch.
Samsung started to chase back. In the bottom of the eighth, back-to-back singles by Kim Tae-hoon and Koo Ja-rook put runners on first and second with one out before McKinnon singled to center. With runners on second and third, Kim Young-woong hit a three-run shot to tie the game at one.
The teams were unable to tie the game in the ninth inning, sending the game into extra innings.
Both teams went through the 10th inning without scoring, but KT struck first in the 11th. In the top of the 11th, Chun Sung-ho drew a walk and stole second base before Rojas hit an RBI single to center field to regain the lead. Kang Baek-ho then walked and Moon Sang-chul singled to put runners on second and third, but a critical error by third baseman Jeon Byung-woo made it 8-5.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, Son Dong-hyun got three quick outs to end the game with an 8-5 KT victory.