The professional baseball team Samsung Lions broke their three-game losing streak with a dramatic game-winning home run in the 9th inning.
On the 20th, Samsung won 6-3 against the Kiwoom Heroes in a grueling match that went into the 11th inning at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, ending their three-game losing streak.
Starting pitcher Won Tae-in pitched 8 innings with 5 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, but closing pitcher Lee Ho-sung allowed a tie in the 9th, costing Won Tae-in the win. The bullpen, consisting of Lee Ho-sung (1 inning, 1 earned run), Baek Jeong-hyun (1 inning, no earned runs), and Kim Jae-yoon (1 inning, 1 earned run), allowed the tying run but ultimately secured the victory.
Samsung fielded a starting lineup of Kim Ji-chan (designated hitter), Kim Seong-yoon (center fielder), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Lewin Diaz (first baseman), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Kim Heon-gon (right fielder), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), and Ryu Ji-hyun (second baseman). Kim Young-woong led the victory by hitting his 7th home run of the season, going 4 at-bats with 2 hits, 1 home run, 1 run batted in, 1 run, and 1 walk. This was his first career home run at Gocheok Dome. Koo Ja-wook had a stellar performance with 3 hits, 3 runs batted in, and 1 walk, while Ryu Ji-hyuk and Kim Ji-chan also recorded multi-hit games. Kim Ji-chan became the hero of the game with a game-winning hit in the 11th inning.
Kiwoom's starting lineup included Song Seong-mun (third baseman), Lee Ju-hyeong (center fielder), Ruben Cardenas (first baseman), Lee Hyung-jong (left fielder), Lim Byeong-wook (right fielder), Kim Tae-jin (shortstop), Kim Woong-bin (designated hitter), Kim Jae-hyun (catcher), and Oh Seon-jin (second baseman). Although Song Seong-mun, Oh Seon-jin, and Lim Byeong-wook had multi-hit performances, the team could not avoid the loss.
Starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg pitched 6 innings with 4 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and 1 earned run, but due to a lack of offensive support, he could not become the winning pitcher. The bullpen, consisting of Won Jong-hyeon (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Kim Seong-min (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Yang Ji-yul (⅔ inning, no earned runs), Joo Seung-woo (1 inning, 1 earned run), Lee Jun-woo (1 inning, no earned runs), Lee Kang-jun (0 innings, 1 earned run), and Yoon Seok-won (1 inning, 3 earned runs), ultimately conceded the win. Kiwoom fell into a two-game losing streak with this defeat.
In the bottom of the 1st inning, Kiwoom's lead-off hitter Song Seong-mun hit a single, and Lee Ju-hyeong walked, creating a 1st-and-3rd opportunity with one out. However, Lee Hyung-jong struck into a 6-4-3 double play, wasting the scoring chance.
Samsung retaliated right away. In the 2nd inning with one out, Kang Min-ho hit a single and stole second base. However, Kim Heon-gon struck out, and Kim Heon-gon hit a ground ball to the third baseman, failing to capitalize on the opportunity.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, Kiwoom's lead-off hitter Kim Tae-jin hit a double, and Kim Woong-bin successfully executed a sacrifice bunt, creating a 1 out, 3rd base opportunity. Kim Jae-hyun was out on a ground ball to the third baseman, but Oh Seon-jin hit an RBI double to score the first run.
Samsung quickly went on the offensive. In the top of the 6th inning with one out, Kim Ji-chan hit a single, and Kim Seong-yoon hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Although the lead runner was out, Koo Ja-wook drew a walk, and Diaz hit an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Kang Min-ho was out on a ground ball to the third baseman and could not advance the game.
The chances continued in the 7th inning. With two outs, Kim Young-woong and Ryu Ji-hyun hit consecutive singles, creating a 2 outs, 1st and 2nd base opportunity. Kiwoom replaced Won Jong-hyeon with Kim Seong-min, but Kim Ji-chan was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with two outs. However, Kim Seong-yoon was caught with a fly out to center field, wasting the chance for a bases-loaded situation.
In the 8th inning, Samsung's lead-off hitter Koo Ja-wook hit a single, creating an opportunity with no outs and a runner on 1st base. However, Diaz struck out, and both Kang Min-ho and Kim Heon-gon were retired, failing to convert to a score.
Continuing to face a crisis, Kiwoom had opportunities in the bottom of the 8th inning with one out as Oh Seon-jin hit a single, Song Seong-mun hit a double, and Lee Ju-hyeong was hit by a pitch, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. However, Cardenas hit into a 6-4-3 double play, wasting the bases-loaded chance without scoring.
In the top of the 9th inning, Samsung's Kim Young-woong hit a solo home run, flipping the score. It was a large home run that cleared the center field wall of the Gocheok Dome.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Kiwoom's Lee Hyung-jong hit a single, and Lim Byeong-wook hit a double. With a walk by Kim Tae-jin, they created a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs, but the pinch hitter Oh Jun-seo was caught with a line drive to the first baseman. Kim Dong-heon hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI, leveling the score. Oh Seon-jin grounded out to the third baseman, preventing the game from ending.
The game went into extra innings. In the 10th inning with two outs, Cardenas hit a double, putting him in scoring position, but Park Soo-jong struck out swinging.
In the top of the 11th inning, Samsung's pinch hitter Lee Seong-kyu walked. Next, pinch hitter Yang Do-geun attempted a sacrifice bunt, but it resulted in successive fouls. After a third bunt attempt, he finally succeeded in the sacrifice, creating a 1 out, 2nd base opportunity. Kim Young-woong reached base with an automatic intentional walk, and Ryu Ji-hyuk drew a straight walk, loading the bases with one out. Kim Ji-chan hit an RBI single, giving the team the lead again. Kim Seong-yoon struck out, but Koo Ja-wook hit a clearing 3-RBI double, sealing the victory.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, Kiwoom's lead-off hitter Lim Byeong-wook hit a triple, creating a final opportunity. Kim Tae-jin hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI, scoring one run. However, no further runs were scored.
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