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Kia Tigers dominate Samsung Lions to lead Korean Series 2-0

Published: 24 Oct. 2024, 10:56

JIM BULLEY
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Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning of Game 2 of the 2024 Korean Series between the Tigers and Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

The Kia Tigers romped to a two-game Korean Series lead on Wednesday, fighting back to win the suspended series opener 5-1 and returning to the field an hour later to take a comfortable 8-3 victory in Game 2.

Wednesday’s action started with the resumption of Game 1, which has been suspended Monday with the Samsung Lions up 1-0 at the top of the sixth. The Tigers scored four times at the bottom of the seventh and added one more in the eighth to take a comfortable win.

The Tigers carried that momentum through to Game 2, roughing up Lions starter Hwang Dong-jae for five runs off five hits before some fans had even found their seats at the bottom of the first inning.

Slugger Kim Do-yeong, who brought home the first run with a ground out, hammered a solo homer over the fence on his second at bat to make it 6-0 at the bottom of the second.

Samsung pulled one back off an error in the fourth, but the Tigers pushed their lead back to six runs off a sac fly in the fifth.

Samsung scored again in the sixth but another sac fly canceled that out in the eighth, with a final Lions run in the ninth providing little consolation in the 8-3 loss.

Kim Kyu-sung of the Kia Tigers steals third in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series between the Tigers and Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Wednesday’s wins end the first Gwangju stop of the seven-game series, with the action now headed northeast to Daegu and the home of the Lions. Two games will be played there at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on Friday and Saturday, with any remaining games in the series then taking place back in Gwangju from Monday.

Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho told Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday that he didn't expect to sweep both games at home.

"If we'd dropped the first game, we'd have been in a tough spot in the second game," Lee said. "But Yang Hyeon-jong and our relievers took care of business, and our hitters knocked in runs when we had to and made sacrifices for the good of the team. This was a good game all around."

Lee is still in his first year as Tigers manager, having been promoted from hitting coach in 2022. He is the youngest manager in the KBO and only retired in 2019.

"All the hard work put in by our players can go for naught because of decisions I make, and that's why I've tried to be careful. Even though we had a big lead, I never once let my guard down and wanted to make sure we'd take this game. With the way they played, our players deserved to win this game, and I am really thankful for that."

The Samsung Lions leave the field after losing Game 2 of the 2024 Korean Series to the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Lions manager Park Jin-man said the blown lead in Game 1 had a knock-on effect that disrupted the team’s game for the rest of the day.

"I'd be lying if I said this didn't affect us in the second game," Park said. "The pendulum swung the other way because we blew the lead on wild pitches, not on some hits. And we couldn't overcome that situation."

Game 3 of the Korean Series will begin at Daegu Samsung Lions Park at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]