Leading 8-0, could you have imagined the closer taking the mound? Four pitchers couldn't even hold out for two innings... Manager Lee Kang-cheol's concerns become reality

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Who could have imagined that the closer would take the mound in the eighth inning with one out and bases loaded, while leading by 8-0? The unstable bullpen of the KT Wiz, aiming for the Korea Series (KS) championship, revealed its true state from the very first game.

KT defeated the Samsung Lions 8-7 in Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven series) held on the 3rd at Suwon KT Wiz Park. In the history of the 42nd Korea Series, the team that won Game 1 went on to win the championship in 31 instances (73.8%).

The result was a victory, but the process was nerve-wracking. KT took an 8-0 lead by the sixth inning thanks to consecutive home runs from Ahn Hyun-min, Kim Hyun-soo, and Han Seung-taek. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the top of the seventh when starting pitcher Daniel Davis allowed a two-run homer to Koo Ja-yuk.

The problem lay in what followed. Logan Allen, the second pitcher who entered as a relief pitcher with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh, brought upon a bases-loaded crisis himself before faltering with 2 hits allowed and 2 runs scored in one-third of an inning. Son Dong-hyeon came in as a reliever, but after allowing scary foul balls to Kim Heon-gon and Lee Jae-hyun in succession, he was replaced by Kim Jung-woon after just eight pitches. Kim Jung-woon also allowed a two-RBI hit to Lee Jae-hyun before striking out Kim Do-hwan on the third pitch, but then walked leadoff hitter Park Seung-gyu with a straight walk and was replaced by Oh Won-seok in the top of the eighth.

Oh Won-seok, who took the mound in the eighth, also failed to fulfill his role, recording one-third of an inning with 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 1 run scored after allowing hits to Koo Ja-yuk and Kim Seong-yoon and a walk to Kim Young-woong, creating a bases-loaded crisis. Thus, the combined performance of four bullpen pitchers from when Davis left with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh until closer Park Yeong-hyeon took the mound with one out and bases loaded in the top of the eighth was merely 1⅓ innings and 4 runs allowed.

Ultimately, KT Manager Lee Kang-cheol called upon closer Park Yeong-hyeon, who has recorded 30 saves for two consecutive years. Park allowed one inherited runner to score on a wild pitch but handled all five batters he faced with ground outs over 1⅔ innings. In particular, in the ninth inning, he struck out three batters consecutively on swings and misses, barely holding onto the victory.

The problem the manager had worried about from the start has become reality. Ahead of the Korea Series, Manager Lee was concerned about how to deploy his left-handed bullpen against Samsung's powerful left-handed lineup. That was also the reason he moved left-handed starters Logan and Oh Won-seok to the bullpen. In Oh Won-seok's case, after transitioning to the bullpen in September, he posted a good record with 2 wins, no losses, 2 holds, an ERA of 1.32, and 10 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings over 10 games, which was considered a masterstroke.

However, Logan failed to stop Samsung's pursuit in the seventh inning, and Oh Won-seok, who was deployed in the eighth to face left-handed batters, also allowed consecutive hits to Koo Ja-yuk and Kim Seong-yoon. In particular, he gave a straight walk to Kim Young-woong, bringing upon a bases-loaded crisis himself.

Manager Lee also blamed his own judgment. After the game, he said, "Today's substitution mistake is my fault. It was close to disaster," and admitted, "Originally, I thought of using Oh Won-seok before Logan. But as the score difference became 8 runs, I think I momentarily thought carelessly."

He continued, "I should have cut it off decisively there, but with the thought of 'maybe I can use Logan more comfortably,' I brought him in and the sequence got messed up. I should have put Oh Won-seok out first instead of Logan," expressing regret. Ultimately, the judgment to be relaxed in pitcher management due to a large score difference ironically led to the early deployment of the closer.

However, it cannot be attributed solely to one person's problem, Logan. Kim Jung-woon and Oh Won-seok also showed unstable performances in control and handling critical moments. Samsung also confirmed the weakness of KT's bullpen.

Samsung Manager Park Jin-man said after the game, "Being down 0-8 and then drawing out the opponent's go-to relievers to close the gap to 7-8 is a clear gain," evaluating that they created an atmosphere where they could turn the tide at any time if the game went into the middle or late innings. He further explained that they would have gained confidence in their ability to attack even against the opponent's go-to relievers.

KT's concerns will inevitably grow larger in the remaining series. The Korea Series can last up to seven games. There is no guarantee that starting pitchers will take responsibility for more than six innings every time. If Park Yeong-hyeon has to be responsible for five outs even with an 8-run lead, the burden in close games becomes even greater.

Park Yeong-hyeon said, "The moment I went up with one out and bases loaded in the eighth inning was the most nerve-wracking," adding, "There are three wins left. I must guard the back door well to win the championship." Catcher Han Seung-taek supported his teammates by saying, "There are many young pitchers, and it was their first game, so they were probably nervous. From tomorrow, they will throw their own pitches and do well."

Manager Lee even mentioned the possibility of utilizing the team's only dedicated left-handed bullpen pitcher as a new alternative to stop Samsung's left-handed lineup. How KT, which secured the first win, will organize its 7th and 8th inning bullpen management to connect to Park Yeong-hyeon in the remaining series has emerged as an important task.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original