‘Castro’s Boom → Han Jun-soo’s Boom → Neil’s Headshot Ejection → Bullpen Locked Down for 4⅔ Innings’ KIA, ‘77.1% Chance of KS Berth’ in Sight... Dominates PO Game 1 with Samsung’s 2 Hits [Daegu On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

An entirely unexpected headshot ejection incident occurred, but it failed to stop the unstoppable KIA Tigers. KIA has crossed the seven-tenths mark toward the Korea Series.

KIA defeated the Samsung Lions 5-1 in Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (PO, best-of-five series) held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 26th.

In the history of best-of-five PO series, the winning team of Game 1 has advanced to the Korea Series with a probability of 77.1% (27/35). Although they entered the PO as underdogs, they have surpassed the seven-tenths mark for the Korea Series.

KIA fielded its starting lineup with Park Jeong-woo (center fielder), Park Jae-hyun (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Harold Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-soo (designated hitter), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Ha Ju-seok (shortstop). James Neil was the starting pitcher.

Samsung countered with Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Seong-yun (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Park Seung-gyu (left fielder), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Kim Yeong-woong (third baseman), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), and Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman). Chris Fiddick took the mound as the starter.

With the originally scheduled Game 1 canceled due to rain, KIA rested for five days. While physical fatigue can be considered largely resolved, the key question was whether the momentum of a lineup that had scored 24 runs in three games would remain intact.

The long break actually proved beneficial for the KIA lineup. Park Jeong-woo and Park Jae-hyun started the top of the first inning with consecutive strikeouts, but focus shone through with two outs. Kim Do-young was at the starting point of that shift. He calmly drew a walk despite an unfavorable count, then stole second base. Castro hit a line drive to right field, and Kim Do-young raced home. The desperate throw from right fielder Kim Seong-yun sailed over the catcher’s head, allowing Castro to round second and reach third. Castro also scored on Na Seung-beom’s double down the left-field line.

The bottom of the lineup struck out in order in the second inning, and Park Jeong-woo and Park Jae-hyun easily retired on outs again in the third, but Kim Do-young changed the flow once more. He hit a line drive to left field, followed by Castro swinging at a 144 km/h low cut fastball from a full count. The ball soared deep into right-field territory, resulting in a two-run home run that extended the lead to 4-0.

KIA took the decisive blow in the fourth inning. Leadoff hitter Han Jun-soo crushed a 133 km/h changeup over the right-field fence. Fiddick remained in the game into the fifth inning to pitch as many innings as possible and reduce the burden on the bullpen, but Kim Do-young engaged in a persistent 13-pitch at-bat with one out, forcing Fiddick to be pulled before completing the fifth inning.

Neil’s pitching was dazzling. He allowed a line drive to center field to Kim Ji-chan in the bottom of the first inning but induced a double play from Kim Seong-yun, then pitched perfectly through one out in the fifth inning. The Samsung hitters, who had not played since the final regular-season game against KT Wiz on the 12th two weeks ago, struggled to find their timing and retired helplessly.

Bad luck also struck KIA. Neil, who had delivered a perfect performance through one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, was suddenly ejected after just 57 pitches. A 146 km/h sinking fastball headed toward Park Seung-gyu’s head. As a result, KIA activated its bullpen earlier than expected.

With one out and a runner on first base, it seemed like a sigh of relief when Kang Min-ho was caught by a fly ball to center field, but after allowing Park Seung-gyu to steal second base, KIA conceded one run on a line drive to left field by Kim Yeong-woong.

However, the danger ended there. After a fierce 11-pitch at-bat against Lee Jae-hyun, the result was a swinging strikeout. KIA moved into the sixth inning while maintaining its four-run lead.

The bullpen’s consecutive strong performances stood out. Lee Yi-ri retired Ryu Ji-hyuk with a strikeout, got Kim Chan to fly out to left field, and struck out Kim Seong-yun again to close the inning cleanly. In the seventh inning, after getting Koo Ja-wook for a looking strikeout, Lee Yi-ri induced a ground ball to shortstop from Diaz, but an error by the substituted shortstop Park Min allowed him to reach base.

The atmosphere could have shifted strangely. This time, defense separated joy from sorrow. A large hit by Park Seung-gyu headed toward the left-field fence, but left fielder Park Jae-hyun did not drop the ball despite colliding with the wall. Following that, he dove to block a bullet-like hit by Kang Min-ho. The seventh inning also ended scoreless.

KIA’s focus remained outstanding in the eighth inning. Leadoff hitter Kim Yeong-woong engaged in a persistent 8-pitch at-bat, and Kim Do-young chased a foul ball heading toward the third-base dugout. Despite hitting a structure, he made a determined catch and did not let go until the end, providing Jo Sang-woo with a precious out. After Jo Sang-woo retired pinch hitter Kim Hyeon-jun on an infield grounder to first base, Guo Do-gyu entered and struck out pinch hitter Kim Do-hwan with a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

Only one out remained until victory. Jun PO hero Jeon Sang-hyun took the mound. After retiring Kim Ji-chan on a fly ball to center field and Kim Seong-yun on an infield grounder to second base, Jeon Sang-hyun also got Koo Ja-wook on a fly ball to left field, securing the team’s victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original