'Comeback, then another comeback!' Samsung, powered by Won Tae-in's save and Park Seung-gyu's go-ahead hit, defeats KIA 6-4 → KS within reach, leading series 2-1 [PO3 On-site Review]

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The Samsung Lions defeated the KIA Tigers to take the lead in the series.

On the 29th, Samsung won 6-4 in Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs (best-of-five) held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field. The team secured the victory after a back-and-forth battle of comebacks and recomebacks.

With this, Samsung took a 2-1 lead in the series. If they win the game on the 30th, they will face the KT Wiz in the Korea Series. Meanwhile, KIA has been pushed to the brink.

On this day, Samsung set its lineup with Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Park Seung-gyu (right fielder), Gu Ja-wook (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Choi Hyeong-woo (left fielder), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Jeon Byung-woo (third baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop). Choi Won-tae started on the mound.

In response, KIA arranged its batting order with Park Jae-hyeon (left fielder), Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Harold Castro (first baseman), Na Seung-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Gyu-seong (second baseman), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Ha Ju-seok (shortstop). Shirakawa took the mound as the starting pitcher.

Samsung scored first. In the top of the first inning, with two outs, Gu Ja-wook reached base on a wild pitch that was not called for a strikeout, and follow-up hitter Diaz launched a two-run home run over the right-field fence (115m), giving Samsung a 2-0 lead.

KIA immediately counterattacked in the bottom of the second inning. With Castro's walk and Kim Sun-bin's hit setting up a runner on first and second with two outs, Kim Tae-goon drove in one run with a base hit to left-center field. In the ensuing chance with runners on first and third and two outs, Ha Ju-seok attacked the first pitch, hitting a single that scored one run to tie the game at 2-2. Once it was tied, Samsung moved first, replacing starting pitcher Choi Won-tae with Bae Chan-seung to put out the fire.

In the bottom of the third inning, KIA took the lead. With one out, Kim Do-young hit a solo home run over the right-field fence (110m) to turn the game around 3-2. However, Samsung's power hitting flared up again. In the top of the fifth inning, with Kang Min-ho's single to right-center field setting up a runner on first with one out, Ryu Ji-hyuk smashed a two-run home run over the right-field fence (120m) to retake the lead 4-3.

KIA's bats did not cool down either. In the bottom of the sixth inning, leadoff hitter Na Seung-beom swung at the third pitch against reliever Won Tae-in, hitting a solo home run over the right-field fence (125m) to tie the game at 4-4 again. Won Tae-in, who had entered with a lead, allowed the tying run.

Samsung showed focus again in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Lee Jae-hyun's hit and Kim Ji-chan's sacrifice bunt set up a runner on second with two outs. Park Seung-gyu then hit a double to right-center field off Jo Sang-woo, scoring one run to take a 5-4 lead. Although KIA replaced its pitcher with Lee Yi-ri, Gu Ja-wook immediately followed with a single to right-center field that scored one run, extending the gap to 6-4.

In both the top of the eighth and ninth innings, Samsung's leadoff hitters reached base, creating opportunities to pull away, but they failed to score additional runs. There was also a final scare in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kim Tae-hoon, who entered in a save situation, recorded two outs first, but gave up a single to left-center field to Park Jae-hyeon and a walk to pinch hitter Han Jun-soo, leaving runners on first and second with two outs. Samsung then moved the mound again. Reliever Satoshi retired the final batter, Kim Do-young, on a ground ball to third base, putting an end to the intense one-run game.

Samsung starting pitcher Choi Won-tae was pulled early after 1⅔ innings, allowing three hits and one walk while giving up two runs, but Bae Chan-seung, Lee Jae-hee, Won Tae-in, Lee Seung-min, and Kim Tae-hoon held the line well. In particular, third pitcher Lee Jae-hee pitched two scoreless innings, and fourth pitcher Won Tae-in pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing one run to earn the win. On the offensive side, Ryu Ji-hyuk went 2-for-3 with one home run, one walk, and two RBIs, while Diaz also contributed with 2-for-4, one home run, one walk, and two RBIs. Meanwhile, for KIA, Kim Do-young was active with 2-for-4, one home run, one walk, and one RBI, but the performance was overshadowed by the defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original