Kim Young-woong and Diaz also hit grand slams... Samsung explodes with 3 home runs
Reyes pitches 6.2 innings with 1 earned run... Choi Won-tae struggles
Ku Ja-wook, the captain of the Samsung Lions in professional baseball, was the KBO League MVP for September. Since September, Ku Ja-wook recorded a batting average of 0.500 (1st), 9 home runs (1st), 24 RBIs (1st), 18 runs scored (2nd), a slugging percentage of 1.017 (1st), and an on-base percentage of 0.559 (1st) over 16 games. This was the first time Ku Ja-wook won the monthly MVP since his professional debut.
Continuing his strong momentum at the end of the regular season, Ku Ja-wook led his team to victory in Game 1 of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Postseason Playoffs.
On the 13th, Samsung defeated the LG Twins 10-4 in Game 1 of the playoffs held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Samsung had not played a real game for about two weeks since their last regular-season game on the 28th of last month. There was concern that they might struggle if they failed to quickly regain their game rhythm, but those worries proved unfounded. Samsung exploded with 13 hits, including three home runs, securing a decisive victory.
Samsung Lions' Koo Ja-wook hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning with runners on 1st and 3rd, extending the lead to 4-0 during the first game of the 2024 professional baseball Shinhan SOL Bank KBO postseason playoff against the LG Twins at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News
Ku Ja-wook started as the third batter and left fielder, leading the offense. In the bottom of the third inning, with Samsung leading 1-0, Ku Ja-wook hit a crucial three-run home run. With no outs and runners on first and third, he connected with a 135 km/h slider from LG starter Choi Won-tae, sending the ball over the right field fence. It was a massive 130-meter home run that was clearly a homer the moment it was hit.
Alongside Ku Ja-wook, Diaz batting fourth and Kim Young-woong batting seventh also launched home runs.
Kim Young-woong hit a one-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, immediately after LG had narrowed the score to 4-1 with Oh Ji-hwan’s solo homer in the top of the fourth. Kim Young-woong’s home run broke LG starter Choi Won-tae’s momentum, forcing him off the mound. Choi struggled, allowing 7 hits (2 home runs) and 5 earned runs over 3 innings.
Samsung’s Diaz hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out and a runner on first, extending the lead to 7-1 and prompting LG to replace their third pitcher, Kim Jin-sung.
The game flow, dominated by Samsung, shifted in the seventh inning.
LG created a scoring opportunity with two outs and runners on first and second thanks to hits by Moon Bo-kyung and Park Hae-min. Samsung replaced starter Reyes with pitcher Song Eun-beom. LG’s ninth batter, Moon Sung-joo, hit a ball that landed in a tricky spot between the pitcher and first base. Song Eun-beom tried to catch the ball barehanded and throw to first base but failed to secure the ball. This led to a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Song felt discomfort in his hand while attempting the barehanded catch and left the mound.
Samsung’s third pitcher, Lee Seung-hyun, induced a routine ground ball to first base from LG’s leadoff hitter Hong Chang-gi, but Samsung first baseman Diaz dropped the ball. Meanwhile, LG’s runner on second, Park Hae-min, scored, cutting the deficit to 3-7. Following a hit by Shin Min-jae, LG further narrowed the score to 4-7.
Professional baseball player Kim Young-woong of the Samsung Lions is cheering as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the 4th inning with no runners on base, extending the lead to 5-1 during the first game of the 2024 professional baseball Shinhan SOL Bank KBO postseason playoff against the LG Twins held on the 13th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
However, Samsung immediately responded in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a bases-loaded opportunity created by walks to Diaz and Kim Young-woong and a hit by Park Byung-ho, Lee Jae-hyun hit a deep sacrifice fly to make the score 8-4. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Samsung added two more runs on consecutive wild pitches by LG’s ninth pitcher Kim Dae-hyun during a bases-loaded situation, sealing the game.
For Samsung, Ku Ja-wook contributed 2 hits including 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored; No. 2 batter Yoon Jung-bin had 3 hits and 2 runs scored; Diaz recorded 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 1 run scored; and Kim Young-woong had 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored.
Samsung starter Reyes pitched effectively, going 6.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), issuing 2 walks, and striking out 1, earning the win.
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