Gwangju:A dream postseason continued Thursday night for Samsung Lions outfielder Park Seung-kyu as he delivered a crucial hit, pushing his team towards a series victory. Park's go-ahead single in the top of the seventh inning allowed the Lions to edge past the Kia Tigers 6-4 in Game 3 of the best-of-five second round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Lions now lead the series 2-1 and have the opportunity to eliminate the Tigers in Game 4, scheduled for 630 p.m. on Friday in Gwangju. Game 3 witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with a two-run home run by Lewin Diaz giving the Lions an early 2-0 lead. However, the Tigers leveled the score in the second inning, and the teams exchanged home runs to maintain a 4-4 tie until the seventh inning.
In a crucial moment, Park faced reliever Cho Sang-woo with two outs and a runner on second. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Park connected on the next pitch, driving it to the right-center field gap for a go-ahead double. This marked Park's second double and third RBI in the series.
Prior to this year, Park had limited postseason experience, with only one plate appearance in 2021. This season has been a breakout year for him, setting career highs in games played, home runs, and RBIs. His newfound starting role in the postseason has been well-earned and embraced.
Park credited his veteran teammates for their advice, emphasizing enjoying the experience and not fearing failure. His enthusiasm and celebrations have energized the team, although one such celebration nearly led to a missed opportunity on Thursday. After his double, Park lost track of the ball while celebrating, but the miscue was inconsequential as Koo Ja-wook's subsequent single allowed Park to score, securing a 6-4 lead.
Despite the celebration incident, Park's go-ahead hit proved decisive, with the Lions bullpen securing the victory. Park finished with one hit in five at-bats, maintaining a .300 batting average in the series. While Park could be a contender for series MVP, he expressed contentment with his supportive role, focusing on contributing wherever needed on the field.