'Batting Leader' Koo Ja-wook with 3 Hits, 'Relief Leader' Kim Jae-yoon Sets Personal Best with 34 Saves... Second-place Samsung 'Fights to the End' [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Samsung Lions secured a satisfying victory with perfect balance between pitching and batting. 'Batting Leader' Koo Ja-wook dominated with three hits and three RBIs, ace Ariel Farado delivered a flawless performance for his eighth win of the season, and 'Relief Leader' Kim Jae-yoon recorded his personal best 34th save.

Samsung defeated SSG Landers 5-4 in an away game against them at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 24th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League schedule.

With two consecutive wins, Samsung improved to 78 wins, 52 losses, and 3 ties, maintaining a three-game lead over first-place KT Wiz, who also won today. Meanwhile, SSG fell into a two-game losing streak, recording 58 wins, 71 losses, and 5 ties.

Samsung fielded its starting lineup with Park Seung-kyu (center fielder), Kim Sung-yoon (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Jeon Byeong-woo (third baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Kim Sang-jun (shortstop). Ace Ariel Farado took the mound as the starting pitcher.

SSG countered with Park Sung-han (shortstop), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Go Myeong-jun (third baseman), Jeon Ui-san (first baseman), An Sang-hyun (second baseman), Lee Ji-young (catcher), and Oh Si-hu (right fielder). Rookie pitcher Kim Min-joon started for SSG.

Despite allowing two baserunners in both the first and second innings without scoring, Samsung finally broke through in the third inning. Kim Sung-yoon reached base with a single to center field, followed by Koo Ja-wook's RBI double that sliced through left-center field.

In the sixth inning, Jeon Byeong-woo crushed rookie pitcher Kim Min-joon's first pitch—a 143 km/h fastball—sending it over the left-field fence for a solo home run (his 11th of the season).

Farado pitched perfectly through six innings. Although he allowed a hit to leadoff batter Park Sung-han in the bottom of the first, he retired Choi Ji-hoon with a groundout to first base, fielded Heredia's line drive himself, and threw to first to catch the runner who failed to return.

The sixth inning ended without any significant threats, and the offense added more runs in the top of the seventh. Kim Min-joon remained on the mound but allowed a two-base hit to Kim Sang-jun after recording one out. After issuing a walk to pinch hitter Kim Young-woong, SSG brought in Lee Geon-wook.

Samsung did not miss its opportunity. Kim Sung-yoon reached base with a single to left field, loading the bases. Koo Ja-wook followed with an RBI double, and Diaz added another run via a sacrifice fly.

Farado wavered in the bottom of the seventh. Misfortune compounded matters: he struck out Choi Ji-hoon, but the ball bounced behind him, allowing Choi to reach first base. After giving up a single to Heredia to left field, Farado recorded two outs before surrendering a two-run double to Jeon Ui-san.

From the eighth inning, Lee Seung-min took over but allowed a hit to Lee Ji-young. With one out, he walked Park Sung-han and gave up a base hit by Choi Ji-hoon that advanced runners to second and third with two outs. Relief pitcher Kim Tae-hun also entered but surrendered a single to Heredia to right field, allowing additional runs. As Samsung narrowed the deficit to two points, closer Kim Jae-yoon was immediately brought in. Facing SSG's fourth batter Kim Jae-hwan, Kim Jae-yoon induced a weak pop fly into the infield to escape the danger.

The offense added more pressure in the top of the ninth. SSG recently activated strong pitcher Kim Min-wool, but Kim Sang-jun reached base with a hit and advanced to second on Lee Sung-gyu's sacrifice bunt. Kim Sung-yoon struck out, but Koo Ja-wook—who recorded three hits and three RBIs today—did not engage in an overly aggressive at-bat, resulting in an automatic intentional walk. Diaz then drew another walk, creating a bases-loaded situation with two outs. However, Jeon Byeong-woo was retired on a check-swing strikeout, failing to add any runs.

Kim Jae-yoon returned to the mound in the bottom of the ninth. He retired leadoff batter Go Myeong-jun with a fly ball to center field but wavered after allowing consecutive hits to Jeon Ui-san and An Sang-hyun. He then struck out Lee Ji-young looking. He induced a ground ball to the shortstop from Oh Tae-gon, which Kim Sang-jun dove to catch, but the throw went awry, allowing one more run to tie the game at 4-5 with two outs and runners on first and second. With just a single able to tie the score, he retired Park Sung-han with a ground ball to shortstop to close out the game.

Farado earned his eighth win of the season (with one loss), lowering his ERA from 3.15 to 3.12. Kim Min-joon pitched a career-high 6⅓ innings but allowed four runs, taking his third loss of the season (7 wins).

Kim Jae-yoon, who set a personal record with 33 saves in 2022, broke his single-season save record today with 34 saves. He extended his lead over second-place Son Ju-young (LG, 30 saves) to four saves.

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*This content was translated by AI.