Ranked 1st in home runs, RBIs, and hits… ‘Genius’ Kang Baek-ho’s 4 hits and KT’s 5 consecutive wins ‘Magic’ [어제의 프로야구]

2024-05-10 00:03:43

KT Kang Baek-ho‘s exciting swing. Provided by KT

KT’s Kang Baek-ho, who returned to his ‘genius hitter’ form this season, had his second 4-hit game of the season. The team continued its 5-game winning streak.

In the home game against NC held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 9th, KT won 6-2 thanks to starting pitcher William Cuevas‘ excellent pitching, allowing 1 run in 6 innings, and Kang Baek-ho’s performance, who allowed 4 hits.

KT, which fell to the bottom at the beginning of the season, has won five consecutive games and raised its winning percentage to 0.447 (17 wins, 21 losses, 1 draw), putting it on the verge of advancing to the middle rankings. The ranking is still 7th, but they are behind 6th place Doosan by 3 games. KT also increased its home game winning streak, which started against Hanwha on the 23rd of last month, to ‘7’.

Kang Baek-ho, who played as the number 2 designated hitter on this day, showed off a spectacular bat show.

Kang Baek-ho hit a double to the right-center field against NC starting pitcher Shin Min-hyuk in the bottom of the first inning with no outs and no outs when the team was down 0-1, bringing home runner Cheon Seong-ho. In the third inning, Kang Baek-ho hit a double to left-center and then followed up with Jang Seong-woo’s timely hit to left-center, hitting home to turn the game around.

Kang Baek-ho, who faltered with a ground ball in front of the second baseman in the 5th inning, completed a 4-hit game with clean left-field hits in both the 7th and 8th innings. It was the second 4-hit game this season following the KIA game on the 4th of last month. Kang Baek-ho led the team’s offense that day with 4 hits in 5 at-bats, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

KT Kang Baek-ho is batting with his eyes on the ball until the end. Provided by KT

With his hard hitting that day, Kang Baek-ho took first place not only in home runs but also in RBIs and most hits. Kang Baek-ho, who is tied for first place in this category with 11 home runs, added 4 hits to rise to first place in this category with 58 hits. He is also first in RBIs with 37 and first in total bases with 101. Kang Baek-ho, who has been slowing down due to physical and mental injuries over the past two years, is expected to be able to set his career best again if he maintains his current pace. Kang Baek-ho’s all-time highest batting average and most RBIs are 0.347 and 102 RBIs in 2021, and his most home runs are 29 in 2018 when he was a rookie.

With Kang Baek-ho recovering, KT is also showing a clear recovery recently. KT, which had a poor performance at the beginning of the season last year and even succeeded in advancing to the Korean Series, is overcoming the humiliation of finishing last in the beginning of the season again and is building up recent wins. KT has recorded 7 wins and 3 losses in the last 10 games, tying with Doosan for the most wins. In addition, the team could become even stronger if local ace Ko Young-pyo, setup man Lee Sang-dong, and starting outfielder Bae Jeong-dae, who are out of the team due to injury, return.

Doosan, ranked 6th, also enjoyed 5 consecutive wins. In the game against Kiwoom held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the same day, Doosan scored three runs in the top of the 9th inning when the score was tied 2-2, winning 5-2.

Doosan scored two runs in the top of the 9th inning with 3 hits in a row, with one out and the bases loaded, thanks to Heo Gyeong-min’s 2-RBI, timely hit to left. Kang Seung-ho, who followed up, also split the game with a timely hit to the left. Foreign hitter Henry Ramos, who was pushed into the batting order at number 8, showed signs of revival by recording 3 hits in 4 at-bats. Choi Ji-gang, who pitched in the 7th inning and pitched 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run, reported his first win of the season, and Hong Geon-hee, who pitched in the 9th inning and pitched 1 inning without allowing a run, earned his 4th save. Kiwoom has recently fallen into the throes of six consecutive losses.

Lotte’s Na Seung-yeop is welcomed by his teammates in the dugout after scoring against Hanwha on the 9th. Provided by Lotte

Lotte, which was in last place, also went on a 5-game winning streak and erased its lead over 9th-place Hanwha.

Lotte bombarded the Hanwha mound with 19 hits, including Jun-woo Jeon’s grand slam in the 8th inning, and won a landslide victory, 18-5.

Lotte was knocked out early with starter Na Kyun-an allowing 4 runs in 3 innings, but maintained the victory by fully mobilizing the bullpen including Kim Sang-soo, Han Hyun-hee, Lim Jun-seop, Jeon Mir, Jin Hae-soo, Choi Jun-yong, and Hyun Do-hoon. Lotte’s batting lineup recorded hits for the second time this season with all starters. Lotte, with 13 wins, 1 draw, and 22 losses (winning rate of 0.371), is slightly behind Hanwha (14 wins, 23 losses, winning rate of 0.378) without a win.

LG Kim Beom-seok hits a lucky infield hit toward third base against Kim Gwang-hyun in the 7th inning against SSG on the 9th. News 1

LG won 3-1 in the Jamsil game over SSG ace Kim Gwang-hyun. LG was down 0-1 until the 6th inning due to Kim Gwang-hyun’s performance, but did not miss a single chance that came in the 7th inning. Moon Seong-joo’s walk and Kim Hyun-soo’s hit resulted in no outs when Austin grounded out at 1st and 3rd base. Third base runner Seong-joo Moon was out at home, but Kim Gwang-hyun’s wild pitch resulted in 1 out and Kim Beom-seok’s bounce on 2nd and 3rd base when Kim Beom-seok grounded out to third base. (Hit on record) tied the score. With bases loaded and one out, LG scored the winning run with Park Dong-won’s walk, and Shin Min-jae also added a run with a walk against replaced pitcher Noh Kyung-eun.

In the Daegu game, when the score was tied 2-2, Samsung added 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, including a double by Kim Heon-gon, to win 5-2, breaking away from their recent 3-game losing streak.

Reporter Lee Heon-jae [email protected]

2024-05-10 00:03:43