Had they come back from an 8-run deficit, Samsung would have written the first chapter in KBO postseason history → Even Kim Dong-ju from 25 years ago was "summoned"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions came close to writing the first chapter in KBO League postseason (PS) history. Conversely, the KT Wiz narrowly escaped becoming the victims of a historic record.

Samsung lost 7-8 to KT in Game 1 of the 2026 Korea Series held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 3rd. Trailing by a wide margin of 0-8 through six innings, the team was on the brink of defeat, but scored five runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to close the gap to one run, sending chills down their opponents' spines.

Had Samsung won that game, it could have become a new chapter in KBO League history. According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the record for the largest comeback victory in postseason history is seven runs, set in Game 4 of the 2015 Junior Playoffs between the Doosan Bears and Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom).

At the time, Doosan trailed 2-9 through six innings but scored two runs in the seventh, one in the eighth, and six in the ninth to prove their "Miracle Doosan" moniker. Winning 11-9, Doosan closed out the Junior Playoffs with a 3-1 record, defeated the NC Dinos in the Playoffs (PO), and beat Samsung in the Korea Series to claim a miraculous "upset championship."

The Korea Series record is six runs, also held by Doosan. In the fourth game at Jamsil 25 years ago in 2001, Doosan gave up eight runs in the top of the second to trail 2-8, but scored a whopping 12 runs, including Kim Dong-ju's grand slam home run in the bottom of the third, to come from behind for an 18-11 victory.

The reflections of the two team managers at the time, recorded in the KBO annual report, are impressive. Samsung manager Kim Eung-yong said, "It is the first time I have lost after scoring more than 10 runs in the Korea Series," while Doosan manager Kim In-sik remarked, "I thought we were done for after giving up eight runs in the second inning." Riding that momentum, Doosan secured the championship with a 4-2 record.

The record for this category in the KBO regular season is 10 runs. The SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) trailed 1-11 against Doosan at Munsu on May 8, 2013, before staging a comeback to win 13-12.

The expressions of the two team managers, who held a press conference after Game 1 in Suwon that day, were mixed with tension, relief, and regret.

KT manager Lee Kang-cheol laughed and said, "We really almost had a disaster," before reflecting, "In big games, one big hit is indeed important. And while we weren't careless, it was a game that reminded us once again that even a slight lapse in concentration is not allowed."

Samsung manager Park Jin-man said, "We were dragged around for a long time, but managed to chase from 0-8 to 7-8 against KT's key bullpen. Although we lost the game, there was still something to gain," adding, "Because we created an atmosphere where we could turn the tide at any point in the middle or late stages of the game going forward, there were positive aspects as well," easing his disappointment.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original