Daegu:It was a pitch that got away for Kia Tigers starter James Naile during the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series against the Samsung Lions. Naile had a strong start at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, giving up only one hit through four innings. However, in the fifth inning, with one out, Naile hit Park Seung-kyu in the head with a fastball, leading to his automatic ejection under KBO rules.
According to Yonhap News Agency, despite the incident, Park remained in the game and scored the Lions' first run. The Tigers, nevertheless, secured a 5-1 victory. Naile expressed his relief that Park was unharmed and described the hit-by-pitch as "pretty unfortunate." He stated his intention to move past the incident, acknowledging it as the first such occurrence in his career.
The unexpected ejection required manager Lee Bum-ho to quickly organize the bullpen to cover the remaining innings. Naile commended the bullpen's performance, noting their ability to handle the pressure and secure the win. Reflecting on the Lions' potential, Naile warned against underestimating their offensive capabilities given their regular season performance and advantageous home stadium conditions.
Naile emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and minimizing walks, which he believes is crucial not only against Samsung but all KBO teams. Despite the setback, Naile remains optimistic about his and his team's future performances.