'Amazing' Samsung's 7th consecutive winning series → On track for direct Korean Series berth? The manager reveals the true driving force behind their No. 1 ranking: "Once Samsung gets into a rhythm, it becomes unstoppable"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions' upward momentum is remarkable. Will they maintain this trajectory to finish the regular season in first place and secure a direct berth into the Korean Series?

Last week, Samsung concluded a three-game series against Doosan with two wins and one loss, achieving their seventh consecutive winning series.

Earlier last week, Samsung secured two victories and one defeat in a three-game road series against Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok. They won the first game on the 21st by an 8-6 score, lost the second game on the 22nd by 1-3, but avenged that loss with a 3-1 victory on the 23rd, continuing their upward trend.

Following that, in a three-game weekend series against Doosan, Samsung delivered a decisive 15-4 win in the first game on the 24th. They then won again by 4-1 on the 25th before suffering a 0-7 defeat on the 26th, ultimately finishing the weekend series with two wins and one loss.

During last week (from the 21st to the 26th), Samsung posted a team ERA of 3.33, ranking second only to Doosan (3.32). Their team WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) stood at 1.22, which was the best in the league last week.

Samsung has recorded 57 wins, two draws, and 35 losses this season, leading the league outright. They hold a 2.5-game lead over second-place KT Wiz and a five-game lead over third-place LG Twins.

Looking at head-to-head records, Samsung has dominated all teams except for two this season. Their records stand as follows: nine wins and three losses against NC; eight wins and three losses against KT; eight wins and four losses against Kiwoom; seven wins and four losses against SSG; six wins, one draw, and two losses against Hanwha; six wins and five losses against LG; and six wins, one draw, and five losses against Doosan.

In contrast, their record against Lotte is evenly matched at four wins and four losses, while they trail against KIA with three wins and five losses.

How does the manager view the team's recent surge? When asked about the driving force behind their first-place standing, Samsung manager Park Jin-man responded on the 25th, "It seems like all the gears are finally meshing well together."

Manager Park added, "We faced challenges even at Gocheok, but our pitchers held strong. In the Doosan game on the 24th, our lineup exploded, allowing the pitching staff to rest. In these aspects, it appears that the interaction between pitchers and batters is now functioning smoothly."

He continued, "Regardless, as we've been playing with consistent positive momentum, players seem to have gained considerable confidence. For us, once Samsung gets into a rhythm, it becomes unstoppable. Conversely, when morale dips, we can fall into losing streaks. (Laughs) Right now, we're riding the wave of good momentum and continuing forward."

Samsung will now move to their home field in Daegu for a midweek three-game series against KIA. Following that, they will head to Busan over the weekend to face Lotte. Ironically, these are the two teams against whom Samsung has not yet established a winning record this season. How will Samsung perform against KIA and Lotte? Fans' expectations continue to rise.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original