In brief
Despite an early 8‑0 lead, KT Wiz fell behind as relievers faltered, turning Game 1 of the Korean Series into a rebounding battle. Closer Park Yeong‑hyun, guided by his self‑belief and catcher Han Seung‑taek, steadied the Pirates and closed 8‑7. The win showcased mental fortitude at the highest level of Korean baseball.
In a dramatic down‑turn of Game 1 of the Korean Series, KT Wiz clung to a late‑game rally to defeat the Samsung Lions 8‑7, with closer Park Yeong‑hyun delivering the decisive punch in the eighth inning.
After leading 8‑0 after six innings, the Wiz’s bullpen unraveled: a series of relievers struggled to secure outs, and the Lions burdened the volatile lineup with five runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, turning a comfortable lead into a five‑run deficit.
Park was called into the top of the eighth with one out and the bases loaded, the Wiz still holding an 8‑6 advantage. Despite the odds, Park remained calm, citing routine practice and mental preparation as the key to his readiness.
"No one can tell what will happen over the course of a game, and so I had gone through all of the usual things that I normally do,"
Park said.
The first pitch of the inning’s turnaround went off‑target, but the next pitch wove through left‑field, giving the Lions a soc‑oc-sc 3‑‑home run to tie the game, but a fumble by third‑baseman Koo Ja‑wook, who was hampered by a lingering hamstring injury, prevented a rally on the flyball.
Park’s confidence grew after recording the second out, but a wild pitch over the head of his catcher Han Seung‑taek allowed Koo to score the seventh run.
I was feeling pretty good about myself after the second out of that inning,"
Park said, adding,
I had to really bear down after that.”
Facing a tense 8–7 lead, Park tightened his focus, ultimately recording the final out to secure the save and secure a 8‑7 victory for the Wiz.
Heartstopping moments that highlighted the volatility and unpredictability of baseball arrived instantly: a cover‑the‑finish save inside the context of a championship series with a faint 10‑minute margin, all driven by the spirits of the pitcher and catcher.
Park’s post‑game remarks illustrate the heart of the Korean Series—mental resilience and steady execution. The once‑unassailable 8‑0 advantage turned into a nail‑biting 8‑7 triumph due to the synergy of confidence, duty, and one crucial catcher's assistance.
