It was a moment that made my heart drop.
Park Seung-kyu of Samsung, who had put the team in jeopardy with a fatal error in the ninth inning, saved himself and kept the team secure by recording the final out.
On the 30th, Park Seung-kyu became the breathtaking protagonist in the game between the Samsung Lions and the LG Twins held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul during the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League.'
That day, Park Seung-kyu entered the field as a pinch runner after Kim Seong-yun was substituted due to thigh pain in the third inning. He also showed active movement at the plate, recording 1 hit in 2 at-bats, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base, contributing to the offense.
However, the real drama unfolded in the ninth inning.
In the ninth inning, with Samsung leading 4-1, Gu Ja-wook left the field and Lee Seong-kyu was brought in, allowing Park Seung-kyu to move from right field to left field.
The first batter, LG's Lee Ju-heon, reached base on a walk, and the following batter, Moon Jeong-bin, hit a routine fly ball to left field. However, the ball hit the tip of Park Seung-kyu's glove and escaped his pocket, leading to a fatal error. Both the Samsung bench and the stands were filled with tension.
LG immediately closed the gap by scoring with a two-run hit by Shin Min-jae, making it a one-run game. With two outs and runners on first and second, Kim Hyun-soo stepped up to the plate, making it a situation where a tie or even a walk-off was possible.
Kim Hyun-soo's hit headed towards the left field. Putting the shock of the error behind him, Park Seung-kyu regained his concentration and managed to catch the ball at the right moment, finally ending the game.
It was a moment when he, who was about to become the culprit of a comeback loss, turned into the hero who secured the team's victory.
After the game, Samsung players gathered on the mound.
Ryu Ji-hyuk playfully pushed Park Seung-kyu, and Kang Min-ho eased the atmosphere by tossing a rosin bag. Manager Park Jin-man and Gu Ja-wook warmly embraced Park Seung-kyu, who had overcome his mistake and played his role.
On the 23rd, Park Seung-kyu was called up to the first team as a replacement for Park Byung-ho, who was sidelined due to a knee injury. Since then, he has solidified his position with a batting average of .385 (5 hits in 13 at-bats), 2 runs, and 1 stolen base over 5 games.
Meanwhile, Samsung has been on a five-game winning streak since their game against the KIA Tigers in Daegu on the 24th. In an attempt for a sixth consecutive win, Samsung will have 'Blue Blood Ace' Won Tae-in take the mound today (31st).
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