Baseball is a sport where even an eight-run deficit can be overturned in an instant. KT proved the baseball saying, ‘It’s not over until it’s over,’ with a come-from-behind drama.
KT rallied from an 0-8 deficit to win 12-8 against Kiwoom at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, thanks to a tiebreaking walk-off home run in the ninth inning by Choi Jae-dae and a game-winning two-run homer by Moon Sang-chul in the 10th inning. The sweep of the Kiwoom series extended KT’s winning streak to five games. The gap with sixth-place SSG narrowed to 0.5 games.
The bottom of the first inning was Kiwoom’s time. Kiwoom took the first three runs with a big hit. After Lee Ju-hyung singled, Ronnie Dawson laid down a bunt and stole first base. When KT pitcher Ko Young-pyo’s throw to first base went wide, Lee stole third. Song Sung-moon hit a single up the middle to bring Lee home. With the bases loaded and one out, Kim Hye-sung singled to drive in Dawson from third. Choi Joo-hwan’s grounder was not caught by second baseman Kim Sang-soo to load the bases. Won Sung-joon singled and Song Sung-moon scored on the throw home.
In the bottom of the second inning, Kiwoom didn’t let up. Kiwoom’s Lee Joo-hyung singled off the bat of Ko Young-pyo and advanced to first base. Dawson’s throw to the plate was also caught between the first and second basemen. After the back-to-back hits, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol came to the mound to talk to Go Young-pyo. But the fire in the Kiwoom batting order was not easily extinguished. Song Sung-moon singled to left-center to bring home Lee Joo-hyung, and soon after, Kim Hye-sung’s sacrifice fly brought home Dawson. Choi Joo-hwan followed with a single to center, advancing Song from first to third. Kiwoom extended its lead to 5-0.
Ha Young-min ended the top of the sixth inning with a triple play to complete his quality start with six scoreless innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kiwoom had another big inning. Choi Ju-hwan reached on a throwing error by first baseman Oh Jae-il and stole second base on a 토토사이트 추천 sacrifice bunt by Won Sung-joon. After Kim Tae-jin singled, Kim Gun-hee homered to center field to score three more runs for Kiwoom. Kiwoom extended its lead to 8-0.
In the top of the eighth inning, KT made a late comeback. After Kim Min-hyuk drew a walk, Rojas singled to drive in Kim. It was Rojas’ first hit of the day. After Kwon Dong-jin drew a walk, Kiwoom walked Cho Young-gun to load the bases for Jo Seung-woo, but Oh Jae-il followed with a walk to load the bases. Kang Hyun-woo added a walk to push KT across the plate. A sacrifice fly by Bae Jae-dae brought home Kwon Dong-jin from third base. KT pulled within 3-8.
In the top of the ninth inning, KT tied the game. Kiwoom brought in “temporary firefighter” Kim Sung-min to pitch. Kim struck out the first batter, Kim Min-hyuk, but Moon Sang-chul drew a walk and Kang Baek-ho and Kwon Dong-jin followed with singles. With the bases loaded, Kiwoom faced another crisis. Kang Hyun-woo singled to center field to score a run for KT. KT, which was gradually closing the gap, tied the game at 8-8 with a two-run home run by Choi Jae-dae.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, KT sent Kim Min-soo to the mound. Kiwoom needed just one run. Won Sung-joon led off with a single and stole second base on a sacrifice bunt by Park Soo-jong. KT sent pinch-hitter Lee Hyung-jong to first base on an automatic walk. After Kim Jae-hyun struck out, KT replaced him with Park Young-hyun. Lee’s fly ball was caught, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, KT worked tirelessly. Shim Woo-jun led off with a bunt and stole second on a throwing error by third baseman Song Sung-moon. Kim Min-hyuk’s sacrifice fly moved Shim to third base. Moon Sang-cheol’s shot over the left-field fence finally put KT back in front. With Shim Woo-joon and Moon Sang-chul on base, KT finally took the 10-8 lead. With the bases loaded, Kang Hyeon-woo’s push bunt and Jeong Byeong-dae’s sacrifice fly extended KT’s lead to 12-8.
Kiwoom also gave it their all until the end. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Song Sung-moon and Go Young-woo hit back-to-back singles, but they were unable to tie the game again. The long battle ended with a 12-8 victory for KT.