The Samsung Lions swept the bottom-ranked Kiwoom Heroes.
Samsung won the away game against Kiwoom in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 22nd.
Starting pitcher Deni Reyes recorded his fourth win of the season, throwing 7⅔ innings with 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and no runs. Gu Ja-wook hit a two-run homer in the 8th inning, marking his 9th of the season.
After winning all three games against Kiwoom on the 20th and 21st, Samsung improved to a record of 24 wins, 25 losses, and 1 tie (.490 winning percentage). Kiwoom, now with four consecutive losses, is at 14 wins and 38 losses (.269).
The game was a tightly contested pitchers' duel until the 7th inning. Samsung's starter Reyes faced off against Kiwoom's second-year starter Kim Yeon-joo, who pitched excellently through the 5th inning, allowing just 1 hit, 2 walks, and striking out 3 without allowing any runs.
Kiwoom began utilizing its bullpen starting in the 6th inning. Lee Jun-woo was pulled after issuing back-to-back walks, but Kim Sung-min induced a double play from Gu Ja-wook and managed to retire Lewin Diaz on a ground out to second, stopping the urgency.
In the 8th inning, the Samsung team broke the tie with a home run. After two outs against Kiwoom's Yang Ji-yul, Kim Sung-yoon got a single to center field, setting up Gu Ja-wook's explosive home run.
Gu Ja-wook pulled Yang Ji-yul's 4th slider, hitting a two-run homer that struck the right pole. The distance was 105 meters, marking his 9th homer of the season. It was a significant hit, redeeming his earlier double play.
Reyes allowed a hit to Jeon Tae-hyun and hit Lee Joo-hyung with a pitch in the bottom of the 8th, creating a first and second base threat with no outs. However, he received defensive support when shortstop Lee Jae-hyun made a diving catch on a line drive off Park Joo-hong's bat. Reyes then retired the next batter, Oh Jun-seo, on a pop-out to left field. He achieved his fourth win of the season (3 losses), with a line of 7⅔ innings, 3 hits allowed, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and no runs, lowering his earned run average from 4.81 to 3.92.
In the bottom of the 8th with two outs and runners on first and second, rookie left-handed pitcher Bae Chan-seung came in and dealt with Song Seung-moon after a nine-pitch battle, recording his 5th hold of the season. Closer Lee Ho-sung, who came in for the 9th, allowed a single to lead-off hitter Choi Joo-hwan but struck out Ruben Cardines on 3 pitches and retired Lim Byeong-wook on a fly out to right field, achieving two outs. He faced Kim Tae-jin, permitting a single to center field, leading to a first and second base threat, but struck out Jeon Tae-hyun swinging to secure his 2nd save of the season.
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