Manager Lee Kang-chul and the KT Wiz secured the 2026 KBO League regular-season pennant with a 9-0 shutout victory over the Lotte Giants at Suwon KT Wizpark on October 5, 2026.
KT Wiz Clinches Regular-Season Title With Six-Game Win Streak
The championship was sealed when the magic numbers were completely eliminated after the second-place Samsung Lions fell 7-5 to the Doosan Bears on the same day. With the victory against Lotte, the Wiz improved their record to 86 wins, five draws, and 49 losses, guaranteeing first place in the standings regardless of the remaining schedule.
This marks the second regular-season title in franchise history and the first since 2021. By finishing at the top of the table, KT earned a direct bye to the Korean Series, positioning the club to chase its second combined regular-season and postseason championship.
Offensive Fireworks and Logan Allen’s Dominance on the Mound
KT jumped out to an immediate advantage in the first inning against Lotte starter Kim Jin-wook. Choi Won-jun hit a double and Kim Hyun-soo singled, setting the stage for Sam Hilliard to drive in the game’s first run with an RBI double. Following a walk to Jang Sung-yu, Kim Sang-soo cleared the bases with a two-run double, and Han Seung-taek added an RBI infield single.
Shortstop Jang Joon-won then capped the seven-run first frame with a 105-meter, three-run home run to left field, his sixth of the season. Jang added a solo shot—his second home run of the game and seventh of the year—in the sixth inning, traveling 120 meters. Ahn Hyun-min rounded out the scoring for KT with a 125-meter solo home run to center field in the seventh.
On the mound, KT starting pitcher Logan Allen delivered a stellar performance. Allen threw 110 pitches over eight scoreless innings, allowing just seven hits while striking out 14 batters to earn his seventh win of the season against five losses.
Lotte Giants Suffer Ninth Loss for Kim Jin-Wook
For the Lotte Giants, the loss was their 74th of the campaign against 61 wins and three draws, extending their current losing skid to two games. Starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook struggled through four innings, surrendering nine hits, one home run, one walk, and seven earned runs while striking out one batter to take his ninth loss of the year.
Lotte’s offense managed only seven hits and failed to break through against Allen and the KT pitching staff.
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