Samsung Lions Beat KT Wiz in 12 Innings to Tie the Korean Series

Game 2 of the Korean Series was played Wednesday, with the KT Wiz leading the series 1-0 after a thrilling Game 1. The Wiz started submarine pitcher Young-pyo Ko, while Samsung countered with its ace, Chris Paddack. It was Paddack’s third start in the last 10 days.

After a scoreless first inning, Samsung got on the board in the second. With a runner on second and no outs, Lions first baseman Lewin Díaz hit a ball to deep right field that fell out of Won-jun Choi’s glove after the outfielder crashed hard into the wall. The play allowed Díaz to reach third with an RBI triple.

The score remained 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth in a pitchers’ duel. After Hilliard doubled and advanced to third with two outs, the Wiz needed a clutch hit and got one from Kyoung-min Heo. He blooped a single into left field to tie the game.

After losing their 1-0 lead, the Lions put together another major threat in the sixth as they tried to regain the lead. With runners on first and second and one out to start the inning, Díaz singled to load the bases. With a chance to break the game open, Ko got Ji-hyuk Ryu to ground into a 3-2-3 double play, escaping the inning’s biggest threat to that point and keeping the game tied at 1.

In the bottom half of the inning, it was Paddack’s turn to pull off an escape act. After allowing a one-out double to Hyun-soo Kim, the Wiz had runners on second and third with one out. Paddack got two groundouts to the right side to escape the jam and keep the game tied at 1.

On his 102nd and final pitch of the night, Paddack recorded a groundout for the final out of the seventh. With his team trailing 1-0 in the series, Paddack delivered in a pitchers’ duel with Ko to keep the Lions in the game and preserve the tie through seven innings.

Ko pitched seven innings, allowing one run on eight hits with four strikeouts. Paddack matched him, allowing one run on eight hits with three strikeouts.

The game eventually went to extra innings tied at 1. In the 10th, one batter after Sam Hilliard made a run-saving diving catch in center field, Díaz came through in the clutch once again for the Lions. His two-out single gave Samsung the lead and put the team three outs away from tying the series.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Wiz had runners on first and second with one out when an error by Díaz loaded the bases. Hyun-soo Kim followed with a walk to tie the game. With one out, the Wiz had the winning run 90 feet away.

Lions pitcher Tae-in Won escaped the jam by getting a lineout to first baseman Díaz, who then recorded a forceout to send the game to the 11th inning.

Still tied at 2 in the 12th, the Lions put runners on first and second with one out. Jae-hyeon Lee hit a ground ball back to the pitcher, who recorded a forceout. However, second baseman Yoon-suk Oh had trouble getting the ball out of his glove, and his throw to first could not be picked out of the dirt. The throwing error allowed Díaz to score from second, giving the Lions a 3-2 lead.

For the second time, Samsung needed just three outs to tie the series.

Lions reliever Chan-seung Bae entered in the 12th to close out the game. He recorded the first two outs with a strikeout and, after allowing a walk, got Kim to ground out to second base to secure the 3-2 victory in 12 innings. It was another one-run game in a series that has not disappointed.

The series will now move to Daegu, where the Lions will host the next three games. Samsung will send Ariel Jurado to the mound as it looks to take a 2-1 series lead. Jurado was named series MVP against KIA after posting a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.

The Wiz will counter with right-hander Hyeong-jun So, who went 10-3 with a 3.15 ERA during the regular season.