“Samsung’s extreme measure”: Pulled before completing two innings! Starter Choi Won-tae removed early after 1⅔ innings → Bae Chan-seung calms the situation with a strikeout

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions threw an extreme measure, removing their starting pitcher before he could complete two innings.

Choi Won-tae started in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Postseason Playoffs (best-of-five series) against the KIA Tigers at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 29th, but was removed early after failing to complete the second inning, recording 1⅔ innings and two runs allowed.

In fact, Choi Won-tae’s start on this day was close to perfect. After getting leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun out on a shortstop grounder in the bottom of the first inning, he struck out Kim Ho-ryeong and Kim Do-young consecutively to record a three-out inning. He threw only 16 pitches in the first inning.

However, the second inning became problematic. After issuing a straight walk to leadoff hitter Castro, Choi Won-tae recorded Na Seung-beom on a center field flyout, but was hit for a left-side single by Kim Sun-bin, finding himself in a one-out, runners-on-first-and-second situation. He then induced an infield fly from Kim Gyu-seong to record the second out, seemingly taking a breath of relief.

However, he could not withstand the concentrated hitting after two outs. He allowed a left-side RBI single to eighth batter Kim Tae-gun in a five-pitch at-bat, allowing runner Castro on second base to score. Following that, he also surrendered a center-field RBI single on the first pitch to subsequent hitter Ha Ju-seok, allowing runner Kim Sun-bin on second base to score as well, giving up his second run. He threw 22 pitches in the second inning alone. He failed to protect the 2-0 lead established by Lewin Diaz’s two-run home run in the top of the first inning.

As the one-out, runners-on-first-and-third crisis continued instantly, the Samsung dugout quickly drew its sword. Without hesitation, they instructed a pitching change and sent left-handed pitcher Bae Chan-seung to the mound. Choi Won-tae finished his outing unfortunately, recording three hits allowed, one walk, and two runs allowed over 1⅔ innings.

On this day, Choi Won-tae mixed in a fastball (11 pitches) with a top speed of 148 km/h, a two-seam fastball (6 pitches), a changeup (12 pitches), a cutter (5 pitches), and a curveball (4 pitches). The top speeds for both the fastball and two-seam fastball reached 148 km/h each, but he had to leave the mound after 38 pitches after allowing three consecutive hits in the second inning.

Bae Chan-seung, brought in as a fireman, perfectly lived up to the bench’s trust. The new pitcher Bae Chan-seung faced leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun and, after a pitch count reached 2-2, struck him out on a swinging strike, ending the long bottom of the second inning without allowing any further runs.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original