Seoul:The Kia Tigers delivered a commanding performance to defeat the LG Twins 13-1, completing a three-game sweep in their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Tuesday. Every player in the Tigers' starting lineup contributed with at least one hit and one run, marking them as only the fourth team in postseason history to achieve this feat.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Do-yeong's grand slam in the second inning was a highlight, but manager Lee Bum-ho praised the entire lineup for their efforts. "I think we have a culture developing in this team where every hitter wants to get a hit and get on base," Lee stated. He emphasized the importance of every player contributing, which enabled the team to score multiple runs and ease the pressure on their pitchers.
On the pitching front, starter Keisho Shirakawa excelled, striking out nine and allowing only one run on four hits. Lee expressed his satisfaction with Shirakawa's performance, noting the pitcher's composure and readiness for the game, which contributed significantly to the team's victory.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will face the Samsung Lions in the next round, a rematch of the 2024 Korean Series. The Lions finished the regular season with a better record, making the Tigers the underdogs. However, Lee is optimistic, stating, "The Lions are the better team, but we have nothing to fear. We will try to be as aggressive as we can."
The Tigers will benefit from a four-day rest before the series with the Lions, an opportunity to regroup and reset their starting rotation. This break allows Lee to schedule his top starters, James Naile and Adam Oller, on regular rest for the initial games against the Lions. Lee acknowledged the importance of this rest period, especially when preparing to face a strong opponent like the Lions.