"The starting pitcher did well, and the bullpen was perfect."
The Samsung Lions secured a delightful winning series. They achieved a 2-1 victory in the game against the Kia Tigers on 12th at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. They recorded their 36th win of the season (30 losses, 1 tie).
In the first inning, Gu Ja-wook hit a two-run home run against Kia's starting pitcher Yoon Young-chul to take a 2-0 lead. Although they failed to score again, they maintained their lead until the end with strong pitching and defense.
Starting pitcher Lee Seung-hyun allowed 8 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings but managed to limit the damage to 1 run while recording 5 strikeouts. The bullpen that followed was also impenetrable.
Lee Seung-min recorded 2 outs, and Kim Tae-hoon made 4 outs, marking the second time in history to achieve double-digit holds for six consecutive years. Following that, Bae Chan-seung also pitched one inning, allowing 1 hit and no runs, while Lee Ho-sung perfectly closed out the 9th inning for the save.
In the 8th inning, with no outs and a runner on first, the play by shortstop Lee Jae-hyun, who caught Han Jun-soo's hit and executed a glove toss double play, was also a key to victory. It was a one-run victory achieved through a strong bullpen and solid defense.
After the game, Manager Park Jin-man noted, "We could win thanks to Gu Ja-wook's 2-run homer in the first inning. Starting pitcher Lee Seung-hyun faced some adversity but held it together for 5 innings. After that, Lee Seung-min, Kim Tae-hoon, Bae Chan-seung, and Lee Ho-sung perfectly executed their roles, leading to the victory," revealing the keys to their win.
He continued, "It was a difficult game, and all players worked hard in both offense and defense. I thank the many fans who came to support us in Gwangju."
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