With their backs against the wall, ace Denyi Reyes once again came through for the Samsung Lions. The second-round series MVP turned in his third straight excellent outing, allowing just one unearned run over seven innings to lead the Lions to a critical 4-2 victory over the Kia Tigers. Over his three starts this postseason, Reyes has allowed just one earned run in 19.1 innings, striking out ten while allowing just three walks.
The Lions offense, meanwhile, was looking to rebound after a difficult first two games at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in which they scored a combined four runs. Most surprisingly, the lineup that led the KBO with 190 long balls during the regular season did not hit a single home run. Still, the tides would turn dramatically upon returning home to hitter-friendly Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Lee See-gyu broke the scoreless tie with a solo shot in the third inning off Tigers starter Eric Lauer, and Kim Young-woong connected on his third home run of the postseason to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
거짓말……..
김영웅한국시리즈첫홈런 우르먹우르먹제발
라이온즈파크의주인은 삼성라이온즈임 pic.twitter.com/JayACLIsTO— 짱이님 (@whoiskooo) October 25, 2024
After the Tigers cut the deficit in half on a throwing error in the top of the sixth, the Lions bats would provide more fireworks in the bottom of the seventh against Jang Hung-Sik. Kim Hun-go led off the frame with his fourth home run of the postseason, and Park Byun-ho followed with a home run of his own on the very next pitch. The longball from Park was his 14th career postseason round-tripper, which tied him with former Liona star Lee Seung-hyop for the most in KBO history, while the four total homers from the Lions tied a Korean Series single-game record. Jang, meanwhile, was pulled from the game after earning the dubious distinction of becoming the first pitcher in Korean Series history to give up back-to-back homers on two pitches.
김헌곤-박병호 백투백 !!!!!!!!! ⚾️💥 pic.twitter.com/IkqjqBtqkK
— 듀 🐬🐳🫧 (@blue3bba) October 25, 2024
As can be expected with the KBO’s top regular season team, the Tigers would not go down without a fight. Kim Do-young would bring them within two with an RBI single in the eighth, and the Tigers would load the bases in the ninth off closer Kim Jae-yoon. With the tying run standing on second base, Park Chan-ho hit a ground ball right to third baseman Jung Park-woo, who stepped on third base for the force out to seal the 4-2 victory.
마지막까지 쫄리게 하는 김재윤 반성해요😊
라이온즈파크 개장 후 첫 한국시리즈 승리이자
9년만의 한국시리즈 승리!!!!
삼성라이온즈의 반격은 이제 시작입니다💙💙💙 pic.twitter.com/Fbi1jxzc5v— 우주 🍂 (@bemyuniverse_7) October 25, 2024
The win marked the first step for a potential Lions comeback, and they look to become the first team since 2013 to win a Korean Series after dropping the first two games of the best-of-seven set. Game Four will see a rematch of two of the league’s best pitchers, as KBO win’s leader Won Tae-in and ERA leader James Naile. Both pitchers excelled in the Game 1 suspended game, with Naile allowing just one run over five innings and Won tossing five scoreless innings before the 48-hour stoppage forced him from the game. The first pitch from Deagu Samsung Lions Park will be on Saturday at 1:00 a.m. EST.
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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Portland’s Denyi Reyes pitches against the Richmond Flying Squirrels Wednesday, June 5, 2019. (Staff photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
