The Samsung Lions, fresh off a sweep 꽁머니지급 against SSG, were held to their first draw of the season in the first game of a three-game weekend series against the Kiwoom Heroes.
In the first game of a weekend three-game series against Kiwoom at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the evening of the 28th, Samsung rallied from three runs down in the eighth inning to take the lead for good, but a late run in the bottom of the 12th inning ended the game at 5-5.
Samsung was led by starter Won Tae-in, who pitched seven innings of five-hit, three-run ball (two earned), but after being held scoreless for eight innings and facing defeat, the team scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to extend the game.
After fending off the ensuing threats, Samsung was on the verge of victory in the top of the 12th inning when Kim Sung-yoon, who had a three-hit game, singled, but Oh Seung-hwan, who came on in the bottom of the 12th, gave up back-to-back singles to tie the game.
Despite not being able to hold on for the win, Samsung’s bats came alive with three-hit games from Kim Sung-yoon and Kim Hyun-joon, while Pirela and Lee Jae-hyun also recorded multi-hit games.
A blown save by closer Oh Seung-hwan cost them the win, but with a decidedly stronger showing, Samsung earned their first tie of the season after a game in which they were dragged down by Kiwoom.
Despite missing out on the win streak, Samsung gained a foothold in the chase for ninth-place Kiwoom, and the result was a combination of disappointment at missing out on a one-point victory and grit in the fight to the end.
With younger players such as Kim Sung-yoon and Kim Hyun-joon adding to the team’s vigor, Samsung will be hoping for a second straight win with Buchanan and Suarez starting for the remaining two games of the weekend.
