The 2025 SOL Bank KBO postseason is heating up, and the Samseong Lions are roaring with confidence after clinching the crucial first game of the semifinals against the SSG Landers. The series, played under a best-of-five format, has already delivered its share of drama, clutch performances, and strategic intrigue—setting the stage for what fans hope will be a memorable playoff showdown.
On October 11, 2025, at Incheon’s SSG Landers Field, Samseong took the field for Game 2, aiming to secure a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The Lions had already made a statement in the opening game, winning 5-2 thanks to a blend of timely hitting and standout pitching. Their victory in Game 1 gave them a 68.75% postseason winning rate, a figure that could climb even higher—to 77.8%—should they take Game 2 as well. Historically, of the nine times a team has won both the first and second games in this playoff format, seven have gone on to advance, underscoring just how pivotal these early contests are.
The Game 1 heroics were anchored by Kim Young-eop, who started for SSG Landers but found himself outdueled by Samseong’s relentless offense and their own pitching ace. Despite Kim’s solid record—he had pitched 28 innings with an ERA of 0.243 and notched 37 strikeouts in recent outings—the Lions managed to break through. Kim gave up a home run but remained composed, later reflecting, "I felt pressure but managed to pitch well." His fastball, clocking in at 134 km/h, and his season ERA of 2.87 made him a tough opponent, but the Lions’ bats were up to the task.
One of the key stories from Game 1 was the emergence of Samseong’s Kim Young-woong, who started at third base and batted fifth. He delivered a clutch performance, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Kim’s power has been a hallmark of his game—he hit 28 home runs last season and, despite a postseason batting average of .243, has already launched four homers this fall. After the game, Kim told reporters, "I’m happier that I could help the team win than just hitting a home run." He described the at-bat with characteristic calm: "I didn’t go in looking for a curveball specifically, but since the pitcher throws both fastballs and curves quickly, I just timed for the fastball. When the curve came, I let it go, but then he threw the same pitch in the same spot. I just put it out in front and swung."
Samseong’s offensive resurgence was particularly striking given their struggles in the Wild Card round, where the team hit just .115 (6-for-52). In Game 1 of the semifinals, however, they racked up five runs, including two home runs, showing that their bats had woken up at the perfect time. Kim Young-woong, who had gone just 1-for-7 in the Wild Card series, now looked every bit the postseason star, saying, "Every game is different, but I hope we can keep this momentum going."
Defensively, Kim also made headlines with a heads-up play in the infield. With two outs and runners on the move, he fielded a sharp grounder and, instead of making the routine throw to first, darted to third base to beat the runner and end the inning. Manager Park Jin-man admitted, "I was surprised. With two outs and a full count, all the runners were going. I thought he was going to tag the runner, but instead he touched the base. Maybe his field vision has really improved, or maybe it was just instinct."
Turning to the mound, Samseong’s Game 2 starter was Hur Hee-sun, a pitcher with a reputation for both dominance and vulnerability. This season, Hur posted a 4-4 record with a 2.64 ERA across 15 appearances. He had previously faced SSG just once, on July 23, pitching seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and no walks. However, Hur’s achilles’ heel has been his inability to control the running game—he’s allowed 21 stolen bases this year, with a staggering 91.3% success rate for opposing runners. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings, that’s the highest stolen base allowance in the league. In the second half alone, Hur surrendered 16 steals, tied for the most with SSG’s Drew Anderson, and his catcher Kang Min-ho has struggled as well, throwing out just 13.3% of would-be base stealers.
That’s a major concern against an SSG team that loves to run. The Landers swiped 129 bases during the regular season, ranking third in the league. Speedsters like Jung Joon-jae (37 steals, 3rd in the league), Choi Ji-hoon (28 steals, 6th), and Oh Tae-gon (25 steals, tied for 12th) are always threats on the basepaths. Even An Sang-hyun, with 17 steals, can make things happen. For Samseong, the best defense is keeping these runners off base altogether. Hur’s .200 batting average against is well below the league average of .262, showing his ability to limit hits, but his walk rate (4.25 per nine innings) needs to come down to prevent giving SSG extra opportunities.
On the flip side, SSG’s Game 2 starter was Kim Gun-woo, who entered the postseason with a 5-4 record and a 3.82 ERA over 35 games (13 starts). Against Samseong this year, Kim had a 1-2 record with a 6.75 ERA, but he finished the regular season strong, winning his last two starts and striking out 16 batters in 10⅓ innings.
Samseong’s bullpen has been another strength, with pitchers like Jang Joon-sik, Choi Ji-sik, and Oh Tae-gyeom all posting impressive numbers. The team’s pitch count per inning is 0.200, well below the league average, and the bullpen’s walk rate is a manageable 4.25 per nine innings.
As the series moves forward, the Lions are in the driver’s seat, but the Landers remain dangerous, especially if they can capitalize on Samseong’s vulnerability to the running game. With the final round scheduled for November 16, every pitch, swing, and stolen base could tip the balance. For now, Samseong fans are savoring a strong start, while SSG supporters hope their team’s speed and resilience will turn the tide as the postseason drama continues to unfold at Incheon’s storied ballpark.
