In brief
In a decisive Game 4 of the Korean Series, the Samsung Lions tapped a 19‑year‑old starter and a bruising bullpen to secure a 10‑5 victory, while manager Park Jin‑man warned that the series is far from over. The two Yonhap reports highlight different facets of the game—one centers on the young pitcher’s performance, the other on the manager’s cautious outlook and praise for key relievers.
On Saturday, the Samsung Lions defeated the KT Wiz 10‑5 in Game 4 of the Korean Series, handing the team a 3‑1 advantage that puts them a step away from their first championship since 2014. The victory arrived in Daegu Samsung Lions Park and is already being cited as evidence of a season that has thrust a handful of young pitchers into the spotlight.
Jang Chan‑hee’s breakout performance
In a story that foregrounds the pitcher’s role, Yonhap notes that Jang Chan‑hee, then 19 years, 1 month and 2 days old, was the second youngest starter in Korean Series history. He faced the Wiz on a field that was already leaning in the Lions’ favor and held them to one run on two hits over four solid innings, as the Lions spawned ten runs of their own.
Jang’s outing began with a stumble, yielding a solo home run to Jang Jin‑hyuk on his ninth pitch. He rebounded, however, by getting nine quick outs in the next three frames and walking only two batters over four innings. His early dominance helped the Lions take a 6‑1 lead at the end of the third, and his team’s offense continued to rack up runs.
Instead of letting the young starter finish the game, the Lions’ bench made a bold bullpen decision at the beginning of the fifth inning. That approach nearly backfired as the Wiz scored three times without a hit; Satoshi Miyamori and Bae Chan‑seung lost control with walks, and the game briefly flipped to a 7‑4 deficit. It was not until Lee Jae‑hee was summoned that the Lions stopped the run spurt.
Manager Park’s cautious outlook
In a subsequent Yonhap piece, the focus shifts from Jang to manager Park Jin‑man’s mindset. Park admitted that despite the commanding 3‑1 lead, the postseason is raw and unpredictable. In his words, “We are getting close but in the postseason, one game can be a turning point and then you never know what can happen after that.” He emphasized that the job goes on until the next win.
“We are not going to let our guard down. We will do our best to finish the series tomorrow.”
Park highlighted the need for strict bullpen control and credited reliever Lee Jae‑hee as the game’s MVP, as he neutralized a bases‑loaded scenario in the fifth inning. He also praised breakout star Park Seung‑kyu, who went 3‑for‑4 and drove in three runs, but acknowledged that every pitcher’s contribution was vital.
The two reports paint a comprehensive picture of the Lions’ position in the series. While one article celebrates the emergence of a teenage starter and shows how the bullpen’s resilience secured the win, the other underscores the manager’s forewarning that the crown is still at stake and that disciplined pitching, especially in relief, remains essential.
Game 5 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the same venue in Daegu, where the Lions need to clinch the championship. The series narrative propels the Lions’ young pitching talent into the national conversation, while the experience of seasoned contributors continues to shape their pursuit of a title that has eluded them since 2014.
