'Korea Series Undefeated Legend' KIA Achieves V12... 7-5 Comeback Victory Over Samsung

Samsung Diaz Hits Back-to-Back Homers for Early 5-1 Lead
Relief Pitchers Give Up Win Due to Walks and Wild Pitches

Professional baseball team KIA Tigers achieved their twelfth overall championship by securing a 4-run comeback victory against Samsung Lions in Game 5 of the Korean Series. Samsung once held a 4-run lead, the largest for them in this series, fueled by home runs from Diaz and Kim Young-woong early on, but ultimately lost the series due to bullpen wild pitches and excessive walks.

On the 28th, KIA won 7-5 against Samsung in Game 5 of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Postseason Korean Series held at Gwangju Kia Champions Field. KIA clinched the Korean Series with a 4-1 record, claiming their twelfth title overall and their first KBO League championship in seven years since 2017. Samsung, dealing with injuries to key players such as Koo Ja-wook, Corner, Won Tae-in, and Kang Min-ho, ended their Korean Series appearance after nine years with disappointment.

In Game 5, both teams’ starting pitchers Yang Hyeon-jong and Lee Seung-hyun were pulled early, leading to an initial offensive battle. However, the game lost some momentum as Samsung’s pitching staff’s wild pitches and walks ultimately decided the outcome.

KIA Tigers' Choi Hyung-woo came up as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the 5th inning and hit a solo home run to narrow the score to 3-5.
Photo by Yonhap News

From the first inning, Samsung’s power hitters ignited the game. Leadoff hitter Kim Ji-chan reached base on a walk, followed by flyouts from Ryu Ji-hyeok and Kim Heon-gon, but Diaz hit a 2-run home run to seize the lead. Then Kim Young-woong hit a consecutive home run, making it 3-0. Both Diaz and Kim Young-woong connected solidly to Yang Hyeon-jong’s slider, which was around 130 km/h, sending the ball over the right-center field fence. Both home runs traveled approximately 115 meters.

Samsung’s starter Lee Seung-hyun was equally shaky. After allowing an infield single to second base by leadoff hitter Park Chan-ho and issuing a walk to Kim Sun-bin, he faced a no-out, runners on first and second situation. Following a groundout to third by Kim Do-young and a flyout to the outfield by Na Sung-bum, KIA scored one run. Lee Seung-hyun did not allow runs in the bottom of the second but showed signs of instability. After securing two outs, he walked the ninth batter Lee Chang-jin on four balls, creating a threat. He then allowed a double to Park Chan-ho, putting runners on second and third, but managed to get Kim Sun-bin to fly out to second base, ending the inning with difficulty.

In the top of the third, Diaz hit a back-to-back 2-run homer, extending Samsung’s lead to 5-1. With two outs and a runner on first, Diaz connected on the second pitch, a 143 km/h fastball from Yang Hyeon-jong, sending the ball 120 meters. This was the largest lead Samsung held over KIA in this Korean Series. Yang Hyeon-jong was taken off the mound after pitching 2.2 innings, allowing 4 hits (3 home runs), 5 runs (all earned), 1 walk, and striking out 3, throwing a total of 41 pitches.

KIA immediately responded in the bottom of the third, applying pressure on Samsung. Kim Do-young, Na Sung-bum, and Choi Hyung-woo combined for 3 hits, scoring one run to narrow the gap.

Samsung’s starter Lee Seung-hyun was pulled in the bottom of the fourth. After securing two outs, he allowed a hit to Kim Sun-bin and consecutive walks to Kim Do-young and Na Sung-bum, loading the bases and forcing a pitching change to Kim Tae-hoon. Socrates grounded out to second base, preventing KIA from scoring. Lee Seung-hyun finished with 74 pitches over 3.2 innings, giving up 7 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 4 walks, and striking out 3.

KIA tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Choi Hyung-woo hit a home run over the right field fence, bringing the score to 3-5. Then, KIA capitalized on four walks and a wild pitch from Samsung to score two more runs, leveling the game at 5-5.

KIA took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Samsung’s pitching staff again committed a wild pitch, allowing a run. Leadoff hitter Socrates hit a single past the right fielder and reached base, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Socrates moved to third on Choi Hyung-woo’s infield grounder and scored the go-ahead run on Kim Tae-gun’s infield hit.

KIA Tigers players are cheering after securing their twelfth championship by winning Game 5 of the Korean Series with a 7-5 comeback victory over the Samsung Lions.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

KIA missed a crucial opportunity to seal the game in the bottom of the seventh. Leadoff hitter Kim Sun-bin reached base with a deep infield single to third. Kim Do-young attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Samsung pitcher Im Chang-min hesitated on the throw to second base, allowing the batter-runner Kim Do-young to reach safely as well. With no outs and runners on first and second, KIA had a golden chance. However, they failed to capitalize against Samsung’s new pitcher Kim Jae-yoon. Na Sung-bum and Socrates struck out consecutively, and pinch hitter Choi Won-jun grounded out to first base, squandering the opportunity.

Samsung missed a critical chance to tie the game in the top of the eighth. Leadoff hitter Ryu Ji-hyeok walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kim Heon-gon, creating a runner on second with one out. Diaz struck out, but Kim Young-woong walked and Park Byung-ho was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with two outs. However, Lee Jae-hyun flew out to second base against KIA’s closer Jung Hae-young, ending the threat without scoring.

KIA added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. With one out and a runner on first, Park Chan-ho hit a double to left-center field, scoring the team’s seventh run.

Jung Hae-young closed out Samsung’s top of the ninth with a perfect inning, securing KIA’s twelfth Korean Series championship. Jung struck out Samsung’s leadoff hitter Lee Sung-kyu on three pitches, got pinch hitter Yoon Jung-bin to ground out to second, and struck out the final batter Kim Sung-yoon swinging on four pitches, embracing catcher Kim Tae-gun in celebration.