Kim Jae-yoon Reaches 220 Career Saves as Samsung Snaps Two-Game Losing Streak

The Samsung Lions closed in on the league-leading KT Wiz, fueled by closer Kim Jae-yoon, who became the fifth pitcher in KBO League history to reach 220 career saves.

In an away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park for the 2026 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League today (August 22), Samsung secured an 8-6 victory after a back-and-forth seesaw battle.

Snapping a two-game skid, Samsung improved to 64 wins, 44 losses, and 2 draws with a winning percentage of 0.593, pulling within one game of the first-place KT (63 wins, 41 losses, 3 draws, 0.606), whose game was canceled due to rain today.

Samsung opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI single from Choi Hyoung-u, but NC turned the tables to lead 2-1 in the bottom of the first following an error by Samsung starting pitcher Lee Seung-hyun and a fielder's choice.

Samsung tied the game in the top of the second with a double by Kim Ji-chan.

However, NC reclaimed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Kim Hyung-jun.

The fourth inning featured a flurry of home runs.

Samsung first struck with a two-run homer by Kim Tae-hoon and an RBI single by Choi Hyoung-u to take a 5-3 lead, but NC bounced right back in the bottom half when Kim Hyung-jun launched a three-run home run over the left-field wall to edge ahead 6-5.

The lead changed hands once again in the top of the eighth.

With one out and the bases loaded, Samsung's Choi Hyoung-u drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, followed by Lewin Díaz, who brought the runner home from third with a sacrifice fly to left field to take a 7-6 lead and secure the decisive run.

In the top of the ninth, Kim Ji-chan added an insurance run with an RBI single to seal the victory.

Samsung closer Kim Jae-yoon, who leads the league in saves, took the mound with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the eighth, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings to pick up his 27th save of the season (6 wins, 5 losses).

With his 220th career save, Kim Jae-yoon etched his name as the fifth pitcher in KBO League history to reach the milestone.

NC, which recorded hits from all starting batters and outhit Samsung 12 to 10, suffered the defeat after issuing 10 walks and hit-by-pitches.

NC slipped two spots from sixth to eighth place.

At Gocheok Sky Dome, the Kiwoom Heroes defeated the KIA Tigers 3-1, backed by a strong pitching performance from An Woo-jin, to snap a five-game losing streak.

Kiwoom drew first blood in the bottom of the third when Seo Gun-chang hit an RBI single to center following a double by Park Joo-hong.

In the seventh, with two outs and runners on first and second, Kiwoom added two more runs thanks to another RBI single by Seo Gun-chang and an error by KIA center fielder Kim Ho-ryung, extending their lead to 3-0.

A silent KIA offense finally broke through in the top of the ninth with back-to-back doubles by Harold Castro and Na Sung-bum to claw back a run.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Oh Sun-woo lashed a scorching line drive, but it was snagged cleanly in the glove of Kiwoom first baseman An Chi-hong, halting KIA's six-game winning streak.

Making his first appearance in 12 days, An Woo-jin relied on a blazing fastball touching 158 km/h, striking out six batters through seven innings while allowing just four hits and no runs to earn his third win (6 losses) of the season.

KIA starting pitcher Adam Oller pitched brilliantly, racking up seven strikeouts through six innings while giving up just one run on four hits, but he took the loss due to a lack of run support.

Meanwhile, matchups between the Lotte Giants and Doosan Bears (Jamsil), KT Wiz and SSG Landers (Incheon), and LG Twins and Hanwha Eagles (Daejeon) were canceled due to rain.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.