Samsung coach Park Jin-man says, “To make sure we catch Won Tae-in, he comes on the mound despite being 5 points behind.”

In the batting lineup, Park Seung-gyu, who hit the tying run in the third inning, was honored… “It pierced my blood”

(Daegu = Yonhap News) Reporter Dae-ho Lee = Samsung Lions coach Park Jin-man, who started the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League postseason playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5 games) with 1 win and 1 loss, announced that he brought in Won Tae-in to clearly take the lead even with a 5-point gap in the 9th inning.

Coach Park said at a press conference after winning 8-3 in the second PO game against the KIA Tigers held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 27th, "When we win, we must win. KIA's batting lineup is not easy."

Samsung, whose closer Kim Jae-yoon left due to injury just before the PO, prepared Won Tae-in, the starting pitcher, as the closer for the first and second games.

In the first game, Won Tae-in did not have a chance to pitch as Samsung lost, and in the second game, he pitched in the 9th inning with an 8-3 lead.

Won Tae-in struck out two in one inning and ended the game with three batters.

Samsung planned to have Won Tae-in as the starter for Game 3 if he did not pitch in Game 1 and Game 2.

Coach Park responded, “If the difference was more than 5 points, we would have used another player. Won Tae-in also took a long break.”

When asked if there were plans to use Won Tae-in as a closing pitcher throughout this series, he added, "There was a plan to do so. If he does not go to the bullpen in Game 3, there may be changes. We will make a decision after Game 3."

Regarding Choi Hyung-woo, who started as the fifth hitter and left fielder and went 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 home run, and 2 RBIs, he said, "Even if he catches just one pop fly, the mood on the bench improves. He is a player who will lift things up when the mood is down, so he will play left field in Game 3 as well."

It is encouraging that Samsung's central batting line came back to life on this day.

Manager Park said, "Park Seung-gyu's timely hit to tie the score in the third inning was decisive. It seemed like the blocked blood was opened. After that, scores came one after another. Park Seung-gyu played a big role," he said, adding, "The pace of the batting line has improved, so the third game will also go well."