Gwangju:With the stakes high in the South Korean baseball postseason, the Samsung Lions and Kia Tigers are gearing up for a critical elimination game. The two teams, who faced off in the series opener, will pit the same starting pitchers against each other once more on Friday evening.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Samsung Lions currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the Kia Tigers in their best-of-five matchup, following a 6-4 victory in Game 3 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field. For Friday's decisive game, the Lions are calling upon Chris Paddack. Paddack, who was the losing pitcher in Game 1 after allowing five runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings, is determined to make a comeback despite having only three days' rest.
Lions' manager Park Jin-man emphasized the importance of utilizing the team's best resources in the postseason. He mentioned that Paddack was eager for a chance at redemption after Game 1. "We have to use our best resources available and make sure we have no regrets after games," Park stated.
On the other side, the Kia Tigers will rely on James Naile to extend their season. Naile had previously limited the Lions to a single hit in Game 1 before his ejection for hitting a batter with a pitch. Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho expressed confidence in Naile, stating, "Having him start tomorrow will give us the best chance to win." With both teams going with their top pitchers, the upcoming game promises to be a tense showdown.