In brief
In a decisive Game 5 of the KBO second round, the Samsung Lions defeated the Kia Tigers 6‑1 to reach the Korean Series, where they will face the KT Wiz. Manager Park Jin‑man criticized the team's defensive lapses, and veteran Choi Hyoung‑woo emphasized his confidence at age 42 despite the long gap since his last title. The Lions are now four wins away from a possible championship.
The Samsung Lions secured a 6‑1 victory over the Kia Tigers in Game 5 of the KBO second‑round series on Sunday, advancing to the Korean Series in Daegu, South Korea.
The win was marked by 11 hits and nine errors across five games, with the Lions posting the fastest game in the series at 2 hours 35 minutes. Starter Ariel Jurado pitched seven solid innings and gave up only one unearned run, while leadoff man Kim Ji‑chan delivered a three‑hit, three‑RBI, three‑run performance.
After the game, manager Park Jin‑man urged his squad to improve their defense.
Our defense has to be better; it was a source of our pride in the regular season, but I don’t know what has happened in the postseason.
Park warned that defensive errors would be magnified in the championship round, adding “a small miscue can determine the outcome of a game and we have to address that issue.”
He also praised key performers, noting “Jurado is a major reason why we are going to the Korean Series” and that Lee Seung‑min was “the unsung hero of the series” for his reliever work.
Meanwhile, veteran outfielder Choi Hyoung‑woo, now 42, reflected on his return to the Korean Series after an 11‑year gap.
It has been such a long time. Of course, our goal at the start of this season was to win the Korean Series. But honestly, I had my doubts,” Choi said.
Choi added,
I wondered how much I could help the team at my age. But seeing the way my teammates competed during the season, I started feeling confident we could get it done.
In the Game 5 win, Choi had contributed five hits, two home runs and four RBIs and moved into left field due to a teammate’s injury, illustrating his continued offensive impact at an advanced age.
The Lions now face the regular‑season champions KT Wiz in the Korean Series, a matchup that will test both their improved defense and the seasoned veteran’s experience in a championship‑level showdown.
