"Hiraldo's 7-inning feast was insane!" Samsung crushes KIA 6-1, advances to face KT in Korea Series [PO5 On-Site Review]

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The Samsung Lions, led by ace starter Ariel Hiraldo (30), defeated the KIA Tigers and advance to the Korea Series. They will face the KT Wiz starting on the 3rd.

On the 1st, at home against KIA in Game 5 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Playoffs held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, Samsung won 6-1. With this victory, Samsung secured a spot in the Korea Series with a series record of three wins and two losses. It is their first appearance in the Korea Series in two seasons since the 2024 season.

On this day, Samsung set its starting lineup in the following order: Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Park Seung-gyu (right fielder), Koo Ja-wook (designated hitter), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Choi Hyeong-woo (left fielder), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), and Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop). Ariel Hiraldo took the mound as the starting pitcher.

In response, KIA constructed its batting order with Park Jae-hyeon (left fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Harold Castro (first baseman), Na Seong-beom (right fielder), Kim Sun-bin (second baseman), Han Jun-su (designated hitter), Ha Ju-seok (shortstop), Kim Tae-goon (catcher), and Park Jeong-woo (center fielder). Adam Ottavino took the mound as the starting pitcher.

Samsung also scored first. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff batter Kim Ji-chan reached base on a single to left field, and Park Seung-gyu's sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position with one out and runners on second base. Next, Koo Ja-wook drew a walk, extending the opportunity to runners on first and second bases. Diaz struck out, but the following Choi Hyeong-woo hit a precise single to center field for an RBI, taking an early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second inning as well, Samsung created a runner on second and third with one out via Kang Min-ho's single to left field and Lee Jae-hyun's double to left-center field. Then, Kim Ji-chan hit a two-run RBI single over the right fielder's head, bringing both runners home. After Kim Ji-chan successfully stole second base, Park Seung-gyu hit a single to center field for an RBI, adding one more run. Samsung scored three runs in the second inning alone to make it 4-0.

KIA immediately counterattacked in the top of the third inning. Leadoff batter Ha Ju-seok reached base on an error by Diaz's fielding attempt, but Kim Tae-goon struck out and Park Jeong-woo grounded into a shortstop double play, resulting in two outs. However, leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyeon hit an RBI triple toward right field to recover one run.

However, Samsung added more runs. In the bottom of the sixth inning, leadoff batter Ryu Ji-hyuk's single to center field and Kang Min-ho's sacrifice bunt created a runner on second with one out. Lee Jae-hyun grounded into an out to right field, but leadoff hitter Kim Ji-chan hit a triple over the left fielder, bringing runner Ryu Ji-hyuk from second base home. Then, Park Seung-gyu attacked the first pitch and hit a single to left field for an RBI, allowing Kim Ji-chan to score as well. Samsung pulled ahead 6-1, extending their lead by two runs.

Samsung starter Hiraldo earned the win with a strong performance of seven innings pitched, five hits allowed, two walks, three strikeouts, and one run allowed (unearned). He showed an overwhelming presence in Game 5, following his win in Game 2. Having kept the KIA lineup in check through the seventh inning, Samsung sent Lee Seung-min to the mound in the top of the eighth and Won Tae-in in the top of the ninth to close out the game.

On the offensive side for Samsung, Kim Ji-chan swung a hot bat with three hits and three runs scored on four at-bats, including three RBIs, while Park Seung-gyu added firepower with two hits and two RBIs on three at-bats. Choi Hyeong-woo also contributed with multiple hits. In contrast, KIA starter Ottavino struggled with six hits allowed, one walk, four strikeouts, and four runs allowed in two innings, and the batters were limited to scattered five hits, ending their season on the road.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original