Escaping 2 straight defeats + sweeping the series

The KT Wiz won the first game of a three-game weekend series.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol's KT snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 25-1-30 (.455) on the season with an 8-5 victory over the Kia Tigers in the seventh game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Wednesday.

Starting against Yang Hyun-jong, Uhm Sang-baek earned his fourth win of the season with six innings of six-hit ball, two walks, five strikeouts and three runs. Kim Min-soo followed with two runs on two hits (one home run) and no walks in one inning of work, but Kim and Park Young-hyun kept the Kia offense in check with one run on one hit and no walks in one inning of work and one run on one hit and no walks in one inning of work, respectively.

At the plate, foreign-born Mel Rojas Jr. was a standout in the leadoff spot. Rojas went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs, his first home run against his former club this season. Veterans Jang Jang-woo and Hwang Jae-gyun, who manned the home run gun next to each other, also did their part, going 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and one walk, and 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI, respectively.

KT opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI double by Kang Baek-ho, but faltered in the bottom of the inning when they 토토 gave up three runs, including an RBI single by Na Sung-beom. After Rojas' RBI single in the top of the second inning, the team went scoreless for three consecutive innings.

However, the mood changed in the middle of the game. In the top of the sixth inning, leadoff hitter Jang Jang-woo hit a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3, and Rojas followed with a game-winning grand slam to take a 7-3 lead.

KT didn't sit idly by as Kia rallied in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run single by Kim Do-young. In the top of the eighth, leadoff hitter Hwang Jae-gyun broke the opponent's will with a solo shot to left. In the end, KT held on to the lead with scoreless innings from its bullpen in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings.

After the game, Lee Kang-cheol said, "After giving up three runs, Uhm Sang-baek pitched reliably to turn the tide. The middle relievers, including Kim Min-soo, did a good job," he said. 'In the batting order, Kang Baek-ho's RBI single set the tone, and Jang Sung-woo's tying home run and Rojas' grand slam gave us a big inning to win the game."

"Hwang Jae-gyun's home run in the eighth inning also came at a good time," Lee said, adding, "Thank you to the players for their hard work and to the fans for their support."

KT will start 'rookie' Yook Cheong-myeong in the first game, looking to secure a second straight win and a sweep of the series. Kia's starting pitcher will be 'ace' James Nail.