“It was a really nice complete game”
“It was a great complete game like an ace.”
The Samsung Lions won the 12th game of the Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League 2024 against SSG Landers 4-3 at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, South Korea, on Sunday. With their second straight win, Samsung improved their season record to 54 wins, 2 draws and 48 losses. The team’s record against SSG is now 5-7.
Starting pitcher Won Tae-in struck out 27 batters. In nine innings, he allowed three runs on five hits, one home run, one walk, and six strikeouts. The offense, which had been silent throughout the game, exploded in the final inning to support Won, who earned his first career complete game victory.
In the top of the first inning, Won was hit by a home run off Han Yu-seom. He gave up a single to Choi and a walk to Guillermo Heredia to put runners on second and third with one out, and a 139-kilometer slider to Han Yoo-seom in the middle of the strike zone for a home run.
But Won wasn’t rattled. He quickly erased the inning. Won struck out the SSG batters without allowing another run. The ace’s performance gave Samsung’s batters a bit of a boost. Kang Min-ho’s RBI single in the sixth inning and Yoon Jung-bin’s solo shot in the eighth inning made it 2-3.
In the top of the ninth, Won gave up an infield single to Choi Ji-hoon and a single to Jung Jun-jae to put runners on first and second with no outs. But Won struck out Choi, got Heredia to ground out to third, and struck out Han Yu-seom to end the threat. Won roared after getting the final out. The Samsung fans gave him a standing ovation as he returned to the dugout.
Samsung had survived the crisis. In the bottom of the ninth, the game was over. Lee Sung-gyu hit a solo shot off Cho Byung-hyun to tie the game, then Kim Young-woong reached on an error and Ryu Ji-hyuk bunted for the second out. Kim Ji-chan drew an automatic walk and Yoon Jeong-bin singled against the new pitcher, Lee Roon, to load the bases. Samsung 안전놀이터 capitalized on a golden opportunity. When Lee Jae-hyun batted, the opposing pitcher threw a wild pitch, and the runner on third base came home to end the game.
Samsung scored the game-winning run. Coach Park Jin-man was very happy. After the game, Park Jin-man said, “Won Tae-in gave up three runs in the first inning, but he pitched steadily until the ninth inning. He pitched a great complete game like an ace,” he said, praising Won Tae-in.
Not to be forgotten was Kang Min-ho, who shared the battery with Won Tae-in. In addition to pitching a complete game victory for Won Tae-in, Kang Min-ho also went 4-for-4 with three hits and one RBI. “Kang Min-ho, who has been hitting tremendously lately, revitalized the team with his hits and RBIs. He is also leading the juniors well,” Park said.
“His tying home run in the ninth inning played a role in turning the tide of the game in our favor,” he said of Lee Sung-kyu.
Finally, Coach Park Jin-man said, “Even in the extreme heat, the players remained focused and showed their passion to win the game. I would like to praise the entire team and thank the fans for always filling the stadium,” said Park.
Meanwhile, Samsung, who have won two in a row, will send Denny Reyes to the mound for Game 3.