KIA coach Beom-ho Lee, “It’s unfortunate that we gave up 4 runs after 2 outs… Our strategy for Hurado failed.”

(Daegu = Yonhap News) Reporters Cheon Byeong-hyuk and Lee Dae-ho = KIA Tigers coach Lee Beom-ho evaluated that he was pushed out of the starting pitcher battle after losing in the second game of the playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5).

KIA lost 3-8 to the Samsung Lions in the second game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason playoffs held at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 27th.

After the game, Manager Beom-ho Lee said, "It was a difficult game as starting pitcher Adam Oller's pitches were concentrated and a lot of points were scored early on," and especially, "It was unfortunate that we gave up 4 runs after 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning."

On the other hand, Samsung starting pitcher Ariel Jura also revealed that he failed in his strategy.

Coach Lee said, “The experienced Hurado threw well,” and added, “Our hitters did not hit the ball easily, but we had Hurado throw a lot of balls.”

KIA lost the second game, putting the brakes on their four-game winning streak in fall baseball.

However, coach Lee Beom-ho said, “We did well enough to get 1 win and 1 loss against the enemy team,” and added, “We will return home and prepare well for the third game.”

Keisho Shirakawa was announced as the starting pitcher for Game 3, which will be held on the 29th.

He said, "If I win Game 3, I will consider whether to bring in James Nail in Game 4," but added, "I will focus only on Game 3 first."

Regarding Choi Hyung-woo, who started as Samsung's left fielder that day and broke the postseason's record for home runs and RBIs, he said, "It feels like I'm hitting my own ball rather than hitting a difficult ball," and added, "Choi Hyung-woo, who has a lot of experience, seems to have a different way of solving problems."