Thanks to multi-homer performances from Lewin Diaz and Kim Hun-gon, the Samsung Lions scored double-digit runs for the second consecutive contest in a 10-4 rout over the LG Twins. The Lions now hold a 2-0 lead in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) playoffs best-of-five series, with the series shifting back to the Twins’ Jasmil Baseball Stadium for games three and four.
Picking up right where they left off in Game One, the Lions offense scored in seven of the eight innings and once again tallied 14 hits. Twins starter Son Ju-Young was not nearly as effective as during the opening round series against the Wiz, where he allowed just two hits over 7.1 shutout innings. Diaz would end his scoreless streak in the bottom of the first on an RBI double, and Kim Young-woong would give the Lions the lead with a solo shot in the second.
역대 포스트시즌 팀 최다 홈런은 2009년 문학 PO 5차전 SK의 6개. 오늘 삼성의 5개는 역대 공동 2위 기록입니다. pic.twitter.com/GnsvgENzXI
— 배지헌 Jiheon Pae (@jhpae117) October 15, 2024
Son would settle down from there, giving up an unearned run in the third before tossing a 1-2-3 fourth. The Twins bats, meanwhile, could do nothing against KBO wins leader Won Tae-in. Making his first start since September 22, Won showed no ill effects from the layoff as he allowed just one run over 6.1 innings.
With Won holding the opposing bats in check, the Lions would knock Son out in the bottom of the fifth and break the game open against the Twins bullpen. Kim Hun-gon greeted reliever You Young-chan with a two-run blast before Diaz led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot off Ham Deok-ju.
가을남자 김헌곤 투런포 pic.twitter.com/Oq7O7YFXJa
— 청 (@cheong4__1) October 15, 2024
The seventh inning would bring even more offensive fireworks, as Kim Ji-chan led off the inning with his second homer of the game, and Diaz capped off a 4-for-4, two-home-run performance with a 410-foot blast three batters later. The two sluggers would combine for seven hits, four home runs, and seven RBI on the day.
디아즈 솔로포 pic.twitter.com/VySCBQensI
— 청 (@cheong4__1) October 15, 2024
The Twins would finally string together a rally in the top of the ninth. Park Ha-min led off the inning with a solo home run, and Kim Hyun-soo continued a torrid postseason with a three-run blast of his own. In the end, however, the deficit proved too big to overcome, as Lee Jong-jun would punch out Kim Dae-won to close out the 10-5 victory.
Though they face a daunting 2-0 series deficit, the Twins have a history of succeeding with their backs against the wall. Trailing 2-1 to the Wiz in the first round, the Twins rebounded with wins in the final two games to advance to play the Lions. They will also benefit from playing in front of their home fans as they try to force another winner-take-all game five. The Lions, meanwhile, will look to finish off a decisive, three-game sweep and advance to the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers. The first pitch of game three will be Thursday at 5:30 a.m. EST.
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