The Kiwoom Heroes avenged an overtime loss to the KT Wizards and ended their opponent’s seven-game winning streak. Kiwoom won 5-2 on the second day of a three-game weekend series against KT at Katie Wiz Park in Suwon on Tuesday.
The key players in the victory were Ahn Woo-jin, who held the KT bats to one run over seven innings, and Kim Hye-sung, who hit a grand slam to drive in the winning run. Kim Hye-sung, in particular, owes a debt of gratitude to Ahn Woo-jin for her performance early in the game.
In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff hitter Kim Min-hyuk hit a ball toward second baseman Kim Hye-sung, but there was an error. The game could have gone either way for Kim or Ahn, but Ahn got out of the inning unscathed.
He struck out the next two batters, Hwang Jae-gyun and Moon Sang-chul, and induced Park Byung-ho to ground out to shortstop, forcing out Kim Min-hyuk at second base to end the first inning. Ahn settled down and cooked the KT bats well.
The batters also showed their strength. In the top of the second inning, Kim Jun-wan drew a bases-loaded walk to take the lead, and Kim Hye-sung capitalized on the ensuing opportunity.
“I told (Ahn) Woo Jin-jin after the first inning, ‘I’m sorry,'” Kim said to the media after the game. My mistake could have shaken things up, but Woo Jin-i did a great job blocking the next batters. I was very fortunate,” he said.
“I wasn’t conscious or worried about the long ball in the second inning,” he said, adding, “I wasn’t aiming for anything. I was just thinking, ‘Let’s hit it, let’s see the ball, let’s hit it well,’ and it went for a home run, and I feel even better that I helped the team win.”
In the dugout after her home run, Kim Hye-sung told Ahn Woo-jin that she “made up for my mistake. “I know that Woo-jin and the team’s starting pitchers don’t have the best luck,” Kim said. “The hitters are also concerned about this, and I feel sorry for them because it happens often. I will try to concentrate at the plate and hit well so that the pitchers can throw better.” Kim also shared her resolve.
Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki also praised Kim’s performance. “Kim Hae-sung’s grand slam won the game, and his relief appearance at the end of the second inning prevented the game from getting out of hand,” Hong said.스포츠토토
“It was her first start after a 10-day break, and she was perfect,” he said of Ahn Woo-jin. “She controlled her pace like an ace and shut down the opposing bats for seven innings.”
Besides Kim Hye-sung, Kiwoom’s batting lineup also got a boost from Lee Ji-young, who had three hits, including a double.
The two teams will face off on the final day of the three-game series on Nov. 11 at the same venue. Jang Jae-young (Kiwoom) and Joo Kwon (KT) are expected to be the starting pitchers.