'1:0→1:1→3:1' Top-ranked Samsung pulls off a tense victory against bottom-ranked Kiwoom! → Smiles with 'Lee Jae-hyun's go-ahead hit + Kim Young-ung's insurance hit' [Gochok On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions displayed sharp focus after an extra-inning battle to defeat the Kiwoom Heroes and secure a winning series.

On the 23rd, Samsung secured a 3-1 victory in their away game against Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, thanks to a go-ahead sacrifice fly and an additional RBI hit in the top of the 11th inning. With this win, Samsung capped off the midweek series with a winning streak.

Samsung lined up Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Ku Ja-wook (left fielder), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Diaz (first baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), Kim Young-ung (third baseman), and Kang Min-ho (catcher) in the lineup, with Yang Chang-seop taking the mound as the starting pitcher.

Kiwoom countered with Seo Geon-chang (second baseman), Choo Jae-hyun (right fielder), Davison (first baseman), Hyu-ra (left fielder), Kim Woong-bin (third baseman), An Chi-hong (designated hitter), Im Byung-wook (center fielder), Kim Dong-heon (catcher), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop) in the lineup, with Ha Young-min as their starting pitcher.

Samsung broke the 0-0 deadlock first. In the top of the third inning, Samsung's leadoff batter Kim Ji-chan reached base with a hit to center field. Kim Sung-yoon's sacrifice bunt was followed by an error from Kiwoom, resulting in no outs and runners on first and second. Ku Ja-wook then laid down another sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third with one out, creating a scoring opportunity. A subsequent hit-by-pitch to Choi Hyung-woo loaded the bases with one out, and Diaz delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to put Samsung ahead 1-0.

The game today unfolded as a tight pitching duel. Samsung's starter Yang Chang-seop shut down Kiwoom's lineup over six innings, allowing six hits and striking out two without surrendering any runs. Kiwoom's starter Ha Young-min also delivered an outstanding performance over seven innings, giving up five hits, striking out six, walking one, and allowing only one unearned run.

However, Samsung's solid mound crumbled in the bottom of the eighth inning. With reliever Kim Tae-hoon replacing Lee Seung-min on the mound, Kiwoom's leadoff batter Davison capitalized on a high-velocity two-seam fastball (141 km/h) on a full-count sixth pitch, launching a massive 135-meter solo home run to deep left field. This single swing tied the game at 1-1. It was Davison's 11th home run of the season.

Momentum shifted to Kiwoom in the bottom of the ninth inning as they seized a critical opportunity. Leadoff batter Im Byung-wook singled to left field, and Kim Dong-heon drew a walk, loading the bases with no outs. Kwon Hyuk-bin then laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third with one out. Samsung responded by intentionally walking Seo Geon-chang to load the bases with one out.

As Samsung brought in closer Kim Jae-yoon, Kiwoom countered with pinch-hitter Choi Joo-hwan. However, Choi Joo-hwan was retired on a fly ball to center field, and Davison, who had just hit the tying home run, was also thrown out on a fly ball to third base. Kiwoom failed to score from the bases-loaded situation with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.

The outcome was decided in the top of the 11th inning. Leadoff batter Choi Hyung-woo singled to left-center field against Kim Jae-woong and was immediately replaced by pinch-runner Yang Woo-hyun. With a walk from Diaz, Samsung loaded the bases with no outs. Ryu Ji-hyuk then laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third with one out, creating a scoring opportunity.

Lee Jae-hyun then stepped up to the plate and hit a significant sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Yang Woo-hyun home from third base to give Samsung a 2-1 lead. Riding the momentum, subsequent batter Kim Young-ung added an RBI single to center field with two outs and a runner on second, extending the lead to 3-1 and sealing the victory. In the bottom of the 11th, despite Seo Geon-chang hitting a hit with two outs, Kiwoom failed to score and bowed their heads in defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.