The Samsung Lions snapped a two-game losing streak.
The team won 6-4 on the road against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Sept. 9. The last-place team picked up its 40th win of the season (56-1). Doosan suffered its 45th loss of the season (48 wins, 1 draw).
Samsung started Kim Hyun-jun (center field), Kim Sung-yoon (left field), Koo Ja-uk (right field), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Ryu Ji-hyuk (third base), Jose Pirela (designated hitter), Oh Jae-il (first base), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), and Kim Dong-jin (second base).
Doosan’s starting lineup was Jung Soo-bin (center field), Kim Jae-ho (shortstop), Jose Rojas (left field), Yang Seok-hwan (first base), Kim In-tae (right field), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Heo Kyung-min (third base), Jang Seung-hyun (catcher), and Lee Yoo-chan (second base).
The starters did their job, but none of them were able to get the win. Doosan starter Raul Alcantara pitched seven innings of two-run ball. Samsung starter Won Tae-in pitched a quality start (six innings or more and three earned runs or less) with three runs in six innings.
The home run, “General Mungun,” unfolded. After a scoreless streak until the top of the fourth inning, the home runs started to come in the bottom of the fourth.
First, it was a battle of egos between foreign batters. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the bases loaded, Ras took a Won Tae-in fastball over the right field fence. It was Rojas’ 12th home run of the season.
In the top of the fifth, Samsung Pirela answered back. Alcantara’s fastball (154km) was driven up the middle and Pirela smashed it over the left field fence.
The second round of the home run duel was between the big hitters. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kim Jae-hwan took a high changeup from Won Tae-in over the right field fence. It was Kim Jae-hwan’s ninth home run of the season.
In the top of the sixth inning, Koo took a splitter from Alcantara low in the strike zone and smashed it over the right-center field fence. It was Koo’s fifth home run of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth, Doosan put runners on first and second with a leadoff single by Jung Soo-bin, a sacrifice bunt by Kim Jae-ho and a high fly ball by Rojas. Yang Seok-hwan followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2.
Samsung tied the game again in the top of the eighth. 안전놀이터 One out later, Kim Dong-jin led off with a double. Kim Hyun-joon struck out, but Kim Sung-yoon followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
In the top of the ninth, Samsung broke the tie. Ryu Ji-hyuk led off with a single and stole second base. Pirela’s infield single put runners on first and third with no outs, but Oh Jae-il walked to load the bases. Kang then hit a grounder in front of the second baseman, and the second baseman, Lee Yoo-chan, made the throw home, but the throw was inaccurate and fell backwards, allowing two runners to cross the plate. Afterward, Kim Dong-jin and Kim Hyun-joon hit back-to-back singles to give Samsung the lead.
Doosan showed its focus once again in the bottom of the ninth. Kim Jae-hwan singled and Heo Kyung-min doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. One out later, Kim Min-hyuk hit a sacrifice fly, but there were no more runs. In the bottom of the ninth, Oh Seung-hwan earned his 16th save of the season.