The Samsung Lions achieved a thrilling one-point victory.

Samsung won 2-1 against the Kia Tigers in the 2025 professional baseball game held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 12th. The mound, consisting of Lee Seung-hyun, Lee Seung-min, Kim Tae-hoon, Bae Chan-seung, and Lee Ho-sung, successfully maintained the lead after Koo Ja-wook's two-run homer. Shortstop Lee Jae-hyun's fantastic defense also shone. They maintained an overwhelming record of 7 wins and 3 losses against Kia this year. Kia's lineup struggled with 11 hits and only 1 run, which was the cause of their defeat.

Samsung lined up Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Yang Do-geun (shortstop), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Diaz (first baseman), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Park Seung-kyu (right fielder), Park Byung-ho (designated hitter), Kim Jae-sung (catcher), and Shim Jae-hoon (second baseman). Yang Do-geun was promoted to the second batting position due to his good hitting pace, and Koo Ja-wook, who recorded 4 hits the previous day, returned to the third batting position.

Kia featured Lee Chang-jin (left fielder), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Wisdom (third baseman), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Oh Seon-woo (right fielder), Hwang Dae-in (first baseman), Han Jun-soo (catcher), Kim Kyu-seong (second baseman), and Kim Ho-ryeong (center fielder). An unfortunate setback occurred as Yoon Do-hyun, who had been performing well, had to exit due to a fractured index finger on his right hand. Instead, Lee Chang-jin, who has a high on-base percentage, was utilized as the leadoff hitter.

The left-handed duel between Kia's Yoon Young-cheol and Samsung's Lee Seung-hyun developed into a pitchers' battle. Samsung took the initiative with a strong hit from Koo Ja-wook, who had heated up recently, in the top of the first inning. After one out, Yang Do-geun drew a walk, and Koo Ja-wook pulled Yoon Young-cheol's slider and sent a two-run homer over the right wall. It was a pleasant start at 2-0.

Yoon Young-cheol did not allow any further runs with his stable pitching. However, Kia's lineup was stifled by Lee Seung-hyun's cerebral pitching. In the bottom of the first, Lee Chang-jin walked, and after one out, Wisdom's hit broke through, but Choi Hyung-woo and Oh Seon-woo struck out. In the second and third innings, runners reached base, but consecutive hits did not materialize, resulting in a blank streak.

They only narrowed the gap by one run in the fourth inning. Oh Seon-woo reached base with a single, but Hwang Dae-in struck out, leading to a double out. Refusing to give up, Han Jun-soo hit a single, and Kim Kyu-seong followed with a left single, creating chances on first and second base, and Kim Ho-ryeong, who had delivered a game-winning hit the previous day, produced a timely hit that skipped past the third baseman to score one run. Lee Chang-jin drew a walk to create a bases-loaded opportunity, but Park Chan-ho remained silent. Park Chan-ho also made an out with a fly ball in the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and third.

Yoon Young-cheol pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs. He showcased a mixture of fastballs reaching 142 km/h and slider, changeup, cutter, and curve balls, clearly restoring his pitching form. While the home run was painful, he did his part in keeping the game close. From the sixth inning, Lee Ji-min, Seong Young-tak, Jeon Sang-hyun, and Jo Sang-woo took the mound, maintaining the one-point game without allowing any runs.

Kia's eighth inning offense was disappointing. Lead-off hitter Hwang Dae-in reached base with a right single, but Han Jun-soo's well-hit ball resulted in a double play. Samsung's shortstop Lee Jae-hyun made a diving catch to grab the hard-hit ball and execute a glove toss double play. This was the highlight of the day's contest. Starter Lee Seung-hyun pitched well through 5 innings, allowing 8 hits, 2 walks, and 1 earned run, securing the victory. Following Lee Seung-min, Kim Tae-hoon swiftly recorded 5 outs to do his part. After Bae Chan-seung, Lee Ho-sung maintained the one-point lead with no runs in the ninth.

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