The "giant variable" Won Tae-in's bold move in the 6th inning backfires: Na Seong-beom immediately hits a solo home run... Ryu Ji-hyuk also records his first postseason home run, but the game returns to a tie [PO3 On-site Report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions deployed the bold strategy of bringing on Won Tae-in in the 6th inning, but KIA Tigers' Na Seong-beom responded by hitting a home run.

Won Tae-in took the mound as a relief pitcher in the bottom of the 6th inning of Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (best-of-five series) against KIA, held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 29th, but was hit for a home run by leadoff batter Na Seong-beom.

Won Tae-in took the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning with his team leading 4-3.

KIA's Na Seong-beom stepped up to the plate. Na fouled off the first pitch. The second pitch was a ball. Both pitches were changeups. Then came the third pitch. Na attacked Won Tae-in's changeup (136 km/h) down the middle of the plate, smashing a tying solo home run over the right-field fence. The distance was 123 meters.

With that solo home run, the game returned to a 4-4 tie.

Meanwhile, earlier in the game, Samsung's Ryu Ji-hyuk hit his first career postseason home run after 15 years in the majors.

Ryu Ji-hyuk, who started the game as the No. 8 hitter and second baseman, drew a bases-loaded walk off KIA starter Shirakawa with one out and a runner on first base in the top of the 5th inning while his team trailed 2-3, and hit a go-ahead two-run home run. It was a moment when Ryu Ji-hyuk, who debuted in the pros in 2012, recorded his first home run in the fall classic after 39 postseason games and his 93rd at-bat. The home run flipped the score to 4-3, but Won Tae-in allowed a solo home run to Na Seong-beom, bringing the score back to 4-4.

Meanwhile, both teams' starting pitchers were removed before completing five innings on this day. Samsung starter Choi Won-tae struggled, allowing three hits, one walk, and two runs while striking out two in 1⅔ innings, and left the mound without finishing the second inning. KIA starter Shirakawa was also replaced by Jung Hae-young after allowing a home run to Ryu Ji-hyuk in the top of the 5th inning and walking Lee Jae-hyun. Shirakawa's line for the day was 4⅓ innings, four hits allowed (including two home runs), and four runs allowed.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original