It couldn't be more thrilling. Professional baseball's Samsung Lions capped a dramatic walk-off victory.
Samsung beat Hanwha Eagles 7-6 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 3rd with Díaz's walk-off home run. Samsung's Choi Hyung-woo set a new KBO League individual record for most hits.
With ace Ariel Jurado in as the starting pitcher, Samsung set the batting order as center fielder Park Seung-gyu - left fielder Kim Heon-gon - designated hitter Choi Hyung-woo - first baseman Lewin Díaz - second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk - third baseman Jeon Byung-woo - right fielder Kim Seong-yun - catcher Kim Do-hwan - shortstop Yang Woo-hyun.
Hanwha set the starting lineup as center fielder Lee Jin-young - right fielder Yonathan Peraza - left fielder Moon Hyun-bin - designated hitter Kang Baek-ho - third baseman Roh Si-hwan - first baseman Kim Tae-yean - shortstop Lee Do-yoon - catcher Heo In-seo - second baseman Hwang Young-mook. The starting pitcher was Wang Yencheng.
Hanwha opened the scoring in the first inning with Peraza's solo homer with no outs. Facing Samsung starter Jurado, Peraza attacked a 2-1 count on the fourth pitch, a changeup (137 km), and sent it over the right-field wall.
In the second, Roh Si-hwan's line drive to center and Kim Tae-yean's sacrifice bunt, followed by Lee Do-yoon's infield grounder, created a 2-out, bases-loaded chance. Heo In-seo drew a walk to increase the runners to two on base. Hwang Young-mook hit a single to right, bringing Roh Si-hwan home.
Samsung took the lead in the fourth. Leadoff hitter Choi Hyung-woo pulled a solo homer to left off Hanwha starter Wang Yencheng. Díaz drew a walk and Ryu Ji-hyuk reached on an error by the defense. A hit by Jeon Byung-woo loaded the bases. Kim Seong-yun grounded out to the pitcher, but Kim Do-hwan's two-run single to center tied it 2-2. Yang Woo-hyun struck out, but with the bases still loaded, Park Seung-gyu drew a walk to force in a run. 3-2.
Hanwha tied it 3-3 in the fifth with Heo In-seo's solo homer to right-center. In the seventh, Heo In-seo exploded a solo homer to left-center, his first career consecutive-inning homers. 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Samsung tied it 4-4 on Park Seung-gyu's walk, Kim Ji-chan's sacrifice bunt and Choi Hyung-woo's RBI hit.
In the eighth, with one out and runners on first and second, pinch hitter Chae Eun-seong hit an RBI single to center to put Hanwha ahead 5-4. After Shim Woo-jun was out on a grounder, Heo In-seo reached on an automatic intentional walk. With two out and the bases loaded, Hwang Young-mook drew a walk to force in a run. 6-4.
Samsung was the one smiling at the end. Trailing 4-6 in the ninth with no outs and runners on first and second, Díaz's three-run walk-off homer delivered the victory.
[OSEN]