Even though the two batters combined for 7 hits, they could not establish a relationship with the team victory.
For KT Wiz, it was a day where the vacancy of injured players was felt even more.
KT lost 3-5 in the 5th game of the season against SSG Landers in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 3rd. Starting pitcher So-Jun Sohn, who had a successful 스포츠토토 comeback match, was also ‘useless’ with 5 innings and 1 run.
Even in the midst of the team losing, there were players who fulfilled their role. Jang Seong-woo, who was in charge of the 4th hitter, and Moon Sang-cheol, who got a chance to start as the 7th designated hitter, combined for 7 hits.
After Park Byeong-ho’s injury, Jang Seong-wu, who took up a larger portion of the team, recorded 3 hits and 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats that day. Due to the big ups and downs, his batting average once fell to the 10% range, but it has definitely changed recently. Since the match against the Samsung Lions on the 28th of last month, he has played a multi-hit performance in 5 consecutive games.
Moonsang Railway also contributed. With 4 hits and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats, he reached base in all at-bats. It was the most hits in a game since his professional debut. Until last year, there were three three-hit matches (Samsung on September 16, 2020, LG on the 27th, Kiwoom on October 13, and Kiwoom on July 28, 2020).
Considering that opponent starter Kim Gwang-hyun is a left-handed pitcher, coach Lee Kang-cheol’s choice, which gave right-handed hitter Moon Sang-cheol a chance, seems to have had some effect.
But that was it. There was no hitter to support them. Following Park Byung-ho, who left due to a micro-hamstring injury, Anthony Alford was also unable to play today due to right knee pain. Kang Baek-ho, who came on as a pinch hitter, was replaced after one at-bat.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol’s concerns about the fact that the 2nd to 4th batters were missing all at once before the game became a reality.