On June 5, 2025, the Samsung Lions secured a crucial 3-1 victory over the SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field, breaking a troubling losing streak in the three-game series and injecting fresh energy into their season. After dropping the first two games, the Lions’ win in the final match helped them maintain their position just behind SSG in the league standings, with a record of 32 wins, 1 tie, and 28 losses, holding fifth place with a .533 winning percentage compared to SSG’s .534.
The game was marked by remarkable performances on both sides of the ball, but none more so than closer Lee Ho-sung’s rare and commanding 7-out save. Entering the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and runners on first and third, Lee Ho-sung delivered 2⅓ innings of near-flawless relief, allowing just one hit, no runs, and striking out five batters. His early entry was a strategic move by Samsung manager Park Jin-man, who explained, “I thought we had to stop SSG’s strong hitters with Lee Ho-sung’s powerful pitching.” Indeed, Lee struck out Oh Tae-gon with a blazing 151 km/h fastball to end the seventh inning, setting the tone for his dominant outing.
Lee Ho-sung’s performance extended through the eighth inning, where he struck out Guillermo Heredia and Choi Jeong consecutively and induced a ground ball from Go Myeong-jun to the second baseman, keeping the opposition off balance with just 20 pitches thrown by that point. Even after Samsung added an insurance run in the ninth to lead 3-1, the hitter-friendly environment of SSG Landers Field meant the game was still precariously close. Lee Ho-sung, confident and undeterred, requested to finish the game himself. Manager Park agreed, noting Lee’s relatively low pitch count and trust in his closer’s stamina.
In the ninth inning, after recording one out, Lee gave up a single to Lee Ji-young but quickly regained control, striking out Park Seong-han and Kim Chan-hyung to seal the win. His 34-pitch, 2⅓-inning save was his fifth of the season and the longest save in innings for Samsung this year. This feat was historic, marking the first 7-out save for Samsung in 4,277 days since Shim Chang-min achieved the same on September 19, 2013, against Doosan. It was also the 297th 7-out save in KBO history and the 44th for Samsung. The rarity of such extended saves by closers was underscored by manager Park’s praise: “Lee Ho-sung really pitched well. We brought him in early because strong hitters were coming up, and we needed strong pitching to win the game. Since his pitch count wasn’t high, we let him take responsibility until the ninth inning.”
Lee Ho-sung himself spoke about his mindset, saying, “I am always ready to pitch in a decisive situation. Since I am a closer now, whenever I enter the game, I think I have to finish the game.” He also noted, “There were no physical problems, and I didn’t feel tired in the ninth inning either. I only thought that I had to finish the game.” His closing out of the game was met with cheers from Samsung fans, and catcher Kang Min-ho warmly congratulated him, saying, “We won thanks to you,” after catching the final strikeout.
Offensively, Samsung’s standout was Koo Ja-wook, who returned to the starting lineup after just one day off and delivered a near-solo performance. Koo went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk, driving the team’s offense with crucial hits and relentless hustle. In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Koo hit a ground ball to third base and sprinted full throttle to first. Although the first base umpire initially called him out, a video review confirmed his foot was on the base before the throw, converting the play into an infield single and scoring a run. This clutch hit gave Samsung a vital lead in a tight contest. Koo also recorded an infield single in the fourth inning with no outs and runners on first and second, and added another RBI hit in the seventh inning, finishing the game with four times on base.
Manager Park Jin-man lauded Koo’s effort, stating, “It was a day that showed players can contribute to victory in diverse ways. Koo Ja-wook’s full-throttle run was almost a solo game for him.” The manager also praised the starting pitching and bullpen depth. Starter Lee Seung-hyun delivered a solid outing, pitching five innings with three hits allowed, no walks, and four strikeouts, earning his second win of the season after a four-game winless streak. Lee’s performance was especially important given the pressure of the game, and Kim Tae-hoon’s relief in the sixth inning was pivotal. When Lee gave up a double to lead-off batter Kim Chan-hyung, Kim Tae-hoon entered and managed to secure three outs despite issuing two walks, preventing any runs and stabilizing the game.
“Starting pitcher Lee Seung-hyun did his part in an important game. Overall, the pitchers threw well, and Kim Tae-hoon’s performance in a crisis situation was particularly outstanding,” Park noted.
Samsung now looks ahead to their upcoming weekend series back home in Daegu against the NC Dinos. The Lions will send Won Tae-in to the mound on June 6, while NC plans to start Kim Nok-won. The momentum from this hard-fought victory could prove crucial as Samsung aims to climb the standings and solidify their playoff positioning.
In a tightly contested KBO season, performances like Lee Ho-sung’s rare extended save and Koo Ja-wook’s relentless offense showcase the depth and resilience of the Samsung Lions. With strategic managerial decisions and clutch contributions from both the pitching staff and hitters, Samsung has turned a potential series sweep into a morale-boosting win, keeping their postseason hopes alive and fans excited for what’s next.