[Anchor]
In Game 3 of the professional baseball playoffs, the Samsung Lions defeated the KIA Tigers, taking a 2-1 series lead and leaving them just one win away from advancing to the Korean Series. Player Park Seung-gyu led the team to victory with a precious game-winning hit.
Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story.
[Reporter]
In Game 3, which could dictate the direction of the series, Samsung engaged in a fierce battle with KIA.
In the top of the first inning, Diaz seized the early momentum by blasting a two-run home run to right field, but starting pitcher Choi Won-tae allowed consecutive RBI hits with two outs in the second inning, giving up a 2-2 tie.
Manager Park Jin-man immediately brought in Bae Chan-seung to put out the fire, but Bae gave up a solo home run to right field to Kim Doyoung in the third inning, ultimately allowing a turnaround.
Just as the momentum threatened to slip away, Ryu Ji-hyuk stepped up as the troubleshooter.
With one out and a runner on first in the fifth inning, he launched a go-ahead two-run homer to right field and roared in celebration.
Taking the lead once again, Samsung played a bold card by bringing in Won Tae-in in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Won surrendered a game-tying solo home run to the very first batter, Na Sung-bum.
Then the batting lineup found its strength again.
In the top of the seventh inning with two outs and a runner on second, Park Seung-gyu drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double, reclaiming the lead for Samsung.
While celebrating, Park failed to notice the throw getting away and missed the chance to advance to third base, drawing some lighthearted scolding, but he soon crossed home plate on Koo Ja-wook's subsequent RBI hit to score an insurance run.
Samsung faced a nerve-wracking crisis in the top of the ninth inning with two outs and runners on first and second when they encountered Kim Doyoung once again, but Satoshi retired Kim on a groundout to third base with a first-pitch forkball.
Samsung secured a 6-4 victory, extending their winning streak to two games after losing the opener, and now stand just one win away from reaching the Korean Series.
[Park Seung-gyu / Samsung Outfielder: I was feeling so good about the game-winning hit that I was celebrating, but the ball had actually rolled way back there. Next time, I will make sure to finish things properly first before celebrating.]
In Game 4 today (October 30), Samsung will pin its hopes on starting pitcher Paddack as they challenge for a spot in the Korean Series, while KIA will put forward Nail in a bid to escape elimination.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Reported by Yang Doo-won | Video Editing by Park Jeong-sam)
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