'8 Home Runs in 2 Games' Samsung Sweeps Both Playoff Home Games

The three home runs in the first game were just a preview. The Samsung Lions of professional baseball swept both playoff games held at home, powered by their explosive home run hitting. In the second game, they launched five home runs.

On the 15th, Samsung defeated the LG Twins 10-5 in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Postseason Playoff Game 2 held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Kim Heon-gon and Diaz hit back-to-back home runs, and Kim Young-woong hit the game-winning homer. Kim Young-woong and Diaz recorded home runs in two consecutive games following Game 1.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, tied 1-1, the 8th batter Kim Young-woong’s solo home run became the winning run. With two outs and no runners on base, Kim Young-woong pulled the first pitch, a 119 km/h slider from LG starter Son Ju-young, over the right field fence for a 110-meter blast.

Kim Young-woong of the Samsung Lions professional baseball team is cheering and rounding the bases after hitting a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning during the second game of the 2024 professional baseball Shinhan SOL Bank KBO postseason playoffs held on the 15th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
Photo by Yonhap News

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In the bottom of the 3rd inning, with two outs and a runner on first, Samsung added one more run thanks to a hit by Diaz and an error by the opponent, extending the lead to 3-1.

The momentum shifted further in Samsung’s favor in the bottom of the 5th inning. After the leadoff batter Kim Young-woong struck out, the 9th batter Jeon Byung-woo drew a walk to get on base. LG starter Son Ju-young was replaced by Yoo Young-chan on the mound. Yoo Young-chan got the first batter, No. 1 Kim Ji-chan, to fly out to left field. However, he gave up a crucial two-run home run to No. 2 Kim Heon-gon.

Kim Heon-gon hit a 110-meter two-run homer over the left field fence on the fifth pitch, a 131 km/h slider from Yoo Young-chan, with a 1 ball 2 strike count. The score gap widened to 5-1. Samsung extended the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning with a home run by cleanup hitter Diaz. LG’s third pitcher Ham Deok-joo gave up a home run as soon as he took the mound.

Kim Heon-gon of the Samsung Lions professional baseball team is cheering after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to extend the lead to 5-1 during the second game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Postseason Playoffs held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 15th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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Like in Game 1, LG found an opportunity in the 7th inning. With hits by No. 7 Park Dong-won, No. 1 Hong Chang-gi, and No. 2 Shin Min-jae, they loaded the bases with two outs. Samsung’s starter Won Tae-in was replaced by Kim Yoon-soo, who came in to extinguish the threat.

Kim Yoon-soo was the hero who put out the fire in a crisis in Game 1. In the 7th inning of Game 1, when Samsung was trailing 7-4 with two outs and runners on first and second, he came in and struck out LG’s Austin on three pitches to quell the threat. This time, he again played the role of a fireman against Austin. With two outs and the bases loaded, he got Austin to ground out to shortstop on three pitches, escaping the inning without allowing a run.

After overcoming the crisis in the top of the 7th, Samsung sealed the victory in the bottom of the 7th. Leadoff batter Kim Ji-chan reached base with a hit to center-right field, then Kim Heon-gon pushed a ball over the fence. After No. 3 Lee Sung-kyu was out, Diaz again cleared the right field fence, extending Samsung’s lead to 9-1. Samsung added one more run in the bottom of the 8th inning, scoring their 10th run. With two outs and runners on first and second, pinch hitter Kim Sung-yoon delivered an RBI hit.

From the 8th inning, left-hander Lee Seung-hyun and right-hander Lee Seung-hyun followed by Kim Tae-hoon pitched to close out the game. LG scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning with a home run by leadoff batter Park Hae-min and a three-run homer by cleanup hitter Kim Hyun-soo, but it was not enough to overturn the result.

Samsung starter Won Tae-in allowed consecutive hits to No. 2 Shin Min-jae and No. 3 Austin in the top of the 1st inning, then gave up an infield grounder to No. 4 Kim Hyun-soo, allowing one run. However, he pitched scoreless innings afterward and earned the win. He threw 104 pitches over 6.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run (1 earned), 2 walks, and striking out 3.

LG starter Son Ju-young took the loss, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), and 4 runs (3 earned).

Samsung’s star player Koo Ja-wook started as the No. 3 left fielder but was replaced in the 2nd inning due to a knee injury. Koo Ja-wook recorded a hit in his first at-bat in the 1st inning but injured his left knee while attempting to steal second base.

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