'Samsung' smiled in the Daegu Samsung Lions-LG Twins game, which had drawn attention as a "preview of the Korean Series."
Samsung beat LG 7-2 at home on the 18th, riding the lineup's concentration. It was their seventh straight win since the Oct. 10 game in Daegu against the NC Dinos. Jack O'Roclin was ejected for a headshot, which complicated mound management, but the elite relief corps combined for a scoreless outing. Meanwhile, LG starter Im Chan-kyu, who had been strong against Samsung last year with a 3-0 record and a 2.74 earned run average, hung his head after allowing his most runs in a single game this season.
Samsung set its starting lineup as center fielder Kim Ji-chan, shortstop Lee Jay-hyun, designated hitter Choi Hyung-woo, first baseman Lewin Diaz, second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk, third baseman Jeon Byeong-woo, catcher Kang Min-ho, right fielder Yoon Jung-bin and left fielder Kim Heon-gon. Foreign left-hander Jack O'Roclin took the mound as the starter. Opposing LG set the batting order as center fielder Park Hae-min, left fielder Moon Sung-ju, first baseman Austin Dean, designated hitter Moon Bo-gyeong, shortstop Oh Ji-hwan, third baseman Cheon Seong-ho, right fielder Hong Chang-ki, catcher Park Dong-won and second baseman Shin Min-jae. The starting pitcher was Im Chan-kyu.
Samsung scored first. In the fourth inning, Lee Jay-hyun's medium single and Choi Hyung-woo's left-field two-base hit set up a no-out bases loaded chance. Diaz hit a single to center-right to bring all runners home. Ryu Ji-hyuk followed with a base hit to left. With no outs and runners on first and second, Jeon Byeong-woo hit a towering three-run shot off LG starter Im Chan-kyu. It was 5-0.
Samsung added another run in the fifth when Kim Ji-chan drew a walk, stole second and Choi Hyung-woo delivered an RBI hit. In the sixth, with one out, Kang Min-ho walked and Kim Heon-gon followed with a triple to center that added one more. Kim Heon-gon's triple was his first since the Sept. 25, 2024 game in Daegu against the Kiwoom Heroes, a span of 570 days.
Samsung starter O'Roclin pitched well in 3 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out three with no runs, but he was ejected for a headshot and left the game disappointed. The second pitcher, Lee Seung-min, earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. He was followed on the mound by Bae Chan-seung, right-hander Lee Seung-hyun, Choi Ji-gwang, Miyaji Yura, Baek Jeong-hyun and Kim Jae-yoon in sequence. Among the hitters, Jeon Byeong-woo and Kim Heon-gon stood out. Jeon had two hits, three RBIs and one run, including the go-ahead three-run homer, and Kim completed a three-hit game, including the triple.
LG starter Im Chan-kyu took the loss after 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits (one home run), one walk, three strikeouts and six runs. LG's lineup was disappointing for its lack of concentration. They failed to score with chances including two on, two out in the third; runners on first and second with one out in the fourth; runners on first and third with one out in the fifth; and a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the sixth. In the seventh, Austin's RBI double and an opponent's wild pitch produced only two runs.
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