The kt Wiz pulled off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the NC Dinos in a slugfest.
In their game against NC at Suwon on Saturday, kt surrendered seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to fall behind, but immediately scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 11-9.
kt seized the early momentum. The Wiz scored two runs first in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on an NC error. In the second inning, Kim Hyun-soo's two-RBI single widened the gap, and they added another run in the bottom of the third to lead 5-0.
NC clawed back one run in the top of the fourth, combining Park Min-woo's double with Park Gun-woo's RBI hit. In the top of the fifth, they added another run on Park Min-woo's RBI hit to close the gap to 2-5. But kt pulled ahead 7-2 on Han Seung-taek's two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth.
The previously quiet NC lineup erupted in the top of the eighth. Led by Kim Joo-won's three-run homer, NC batted around and pounded out seven runs to flip the game to 9-7.
kt did not back down. In the bottom of the eighth, Kwon Dong-jin's solo home run and an opposing wild pitch tied the game at 9-9, before Heo Kyoung-min unleashed a two-RBI double to retake the lead at 11-9. kt held the lead to the end to complete the come-from-behind win.
Also on this day in Daegu, the Samsung Lions overturned a six-run deficit to beat the SSG Landers 7-6.
SSG drew first blood on An Sang-hyun's RBI hit in the top of the second, and added five runs in the top of the third with four consecutive hits with one out and the bases loaded. With an early 6-0 lead, SSG appeared to be cruising.
Samsung mounted a counterattack from the middle innings. Kim Sung-yoon's two-RBI double in the bottom of the fifth sparked the chase, and Jeon Byeong-woo's three-run homer over the left-field fence in the bottom of the sixth narrowed the gap to 5-6.
The game turned in the bottom of the seventh. Samsung seized an opportunity on an opposing error, then succeeded in a 7-6 comeback on Park Seung-gyu's two-RBI hit. SSG, in the midst of a six-game winning streak on the road in Daegu, suffered a painful come-from-behind loss.
In Gwangju, the KIA Tigers defeated the Doosan Bears 2-1 to break out of their recent three-game losing streak.
KIA scored first when Kim Do-young, who reached on a walk, crossed home plate on Byun Woo-hyuk's double to left-center in the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth, Kim Ho-ryeong delivered a left-field RBI hit on a chance created by Kim Tae-gun's hit and a sacrifice bunt to pull ahead 2-0.
Doosan recovered one run in the top of the sixth when Park Chan-ho, who hit a double, scored on Yang Eui-ji's sacrifice fly, but failed to add more. KIA starter James Naile pitched well over six innings, allowing five hits and one run with six strikeouts to pick up the win.
At Gocheok Dome, the Kiwoom Heroes defeated the Hanwha Eagles 3-1 for their second straight win.
Hanwha scored first in the top of the fifth on Lee Do-yoon's infield hit followed by Yonathan Perlaza's double to right. But Kiwoom immediately tied the game with Kim Gun-hee's solo home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the fifth.
Kiwoom took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh when Choi Joo-hwan, who hit a double, was brought home by Won Sung-jun's hit to right. They later added another run to seal the victory. Hanwha ended its eight-game Saturday winning streak.
