SEOUL: The Samsung Lions are aiming to reverse their fortunes in the Korean Series after losing the first two games against the Kia Tigers. The Lions, who have faced similar challenges in past championships, still hold hope as they prepare to play the next two games at home.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this is the 42nd edition of the Korean Series, the championship round in the Korea Baseball Organization’s postseason. Historically, teams that fall behind 2-0 in this best-of-seven series have struggled, but there have been two instances where a team managed to rally from such a deficit to win the title. The 2007 SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) and the 2013 Lions both overcame 2-0 starts to claim victory.
The 2007 series is remembered for a pivotal Game 3 incident where the Wyverns capitalized on four errors by the Doosan Bears, leading to a 9-1 victory and setting the stage for their comeback. In 2013, the Lions also clawed back from a 2-0 and later a 3-1 deficit to win in seven games, using strategic pit
ching changes and timely scoring to secure their third consecutive title.
For the Lions to succeed this year, they may need to adopt a similar aggressive strategy, particularly in bullpen usage, as demonstrated in their past triumphs. The team struggled offensively in the first two games, managing only one home run and a .319 slugging percentage, despite leading the regular season in home runs. However, playing at home could provide an advantage, as they boasted the second-best home record during the regular season.
Adding a layer of intrigue to this series are the connections to past Korean Series. Lions hitting coach Lee Jin-young was part of the 2007 Wyverns, and Choi Hyoung-woo, who played for the Lions in 2013, now competes for the Tigers. Their experiences could prove valuable as the Lions attempt to turn the series around.