The Samsung Lions used a mid-game rally to pull off a come-from-behind win and put the brakes on their opponents’ winning streak. Starting pitcher Won Tae-in, who remained steadfast despite conceding an early run, recorded his first win in the second half.

Samsung snapped a two-game 꽁머니사이트 losing streak with a 6-5 victory in the 13th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the LG Twins at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Friday, improving its record to 42 wins, 1 loss and 58 draws. LG, on the other hand, saw its winning streak come to a halt at five games, falling to 61-2-36.

LG attacked Won Tae-in right from the start of the game. Leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki pushed Won Tae-in’s first pitch for a double to left-center field, and after a grounder by Shin Min-jae, Kim Hyun-soo hit an RBI single with runners on first and third. With the hit, he reached 100 hits for the 14th consecutive season. The sixth-longest streak in KBO history.

The next batter, Austin, also helped. On a full count, he drove a six-pitch fastball from Won Tae-in over the right field fence for a two-run double, scoring Kim Hyun-soo from first base. The score was 2-0.

Samsung was not without its chances. In the bottom of the second, leadoff hitter Kang Min-ho and Pirela hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second, but after Ryu Ji-hyuk flied out to center field unable to lay down a sacrifice bunt, Kang and Oh Jae-il grounded out and struck out, respectively. In the end, the inning ended with no runs scored.

Samsung turned the tide with a big inning in the sixth.

After ending the third inning with a triple play, Plutko struck out two in the bottom of the fourth, shutting down the center field trio of Koo Ja-ook, Kang Min-ho, and Pirela. The team benefited from a week’s rest after its game against the Gwangju Kia Tigers on Aug. 8 was declared a rainout.

After being silent for four innings, Samsung seemed to turn things around in the bottom of the fifth when leadoff hitter Ryu Ji-hyuk singled. The problem came after that. Kang Kang-ul followed with a bunt single, and pitcher Plutko threw the ball straight to first base for a double. Ryu Ji-hyuk, who was running to second base after the hit, was late and the bases were loaded with two outs.

Down by two runs, Samsung turned things around in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a leadoff single by Kim Dong-jin, Kim Hyun-jun and Kim Sung-yoon followed with back-to-back bunts to shake up the platoon. This was followed by an RBI single from Koo Ja-roo, finally giving Samsung its first run.

On the next at-bat, Kang Min-ho hit a grounder to third base, but Moon Bo-kyung, the third baseman, made a throwing error at home to keep all runners alive. With the score tied at 2-2, Samsung got Pirela to strike out with the bases loaded, but Ryu Ji-hyuk’s single to right scored Kim Sung-yoon from third and Koo Ja-rook from second. The score was 4-2. Plutko could not hold on any longer and left the mound with runners on first and second.

LG rallied to win the game in the top of the seventh inning

After losing the lead, LG didn’t go down without a fight. Leadoff hitter Moon Sung-joo singled against Samsung’s second pitcher Woo Kyu-min, and after Lee Jae-won flied out to left field, Park Hae-min drove in Lee Jae-ik from first base.

With runners on first and second, Hong Chang-ki hit a three-pitch pitch from Lee Jae-ik for a single, bringing home Moon Sung-joo from second base. Shin Min-jae followed with a single to right to put the pressure on Samseong, and second baseman Park Hae-min rushed home without stopping at third, but the outcome was a tag out. Right fielder Lee Sung-kyu’s line drive reached home on a no-ball, and catcher Kang Min-ho calmly tagged out Park Hae-min.

Samsung replaced Lee Jae-ik with Kim Tae-hoon on the mound for the second out, and Kim Hyun-soo flied out to left field to end the inning. Despite the run, they escaped with a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

In the top of the eighth, Tae-hoon retired the next three batters, and Samsung loaded the bases with singles by Kang Min-ho, Ryu Ji-hyuk, and Kang Han-ul, but Oh’s throw deflected off first baseman Austin’s mitt and into the outfield, bringing home third baseman Kang Min-ho and second baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk. It was the key play of the game.

LG started the rally in the top of the ninth inning with a leadoff single by Moon Sung-joo, followed by an RBI double by Heo Do-hwan. Park Hae-min singled to right to put runners on first and third, and Hong Chang-ki’s grounder brought in another run to cut the deficit to one. However, Kim Hyun-soo was thrown out at second base to end the inning.

Won Tae-in, who fulfilled his role as a starter despite not receiving any run support until the fifth inning, pitched six innings of seven-hit ball, striking out five and walking two to earn his fifth win of the season, 44 days after his last victory against the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on March 2.