Won Tae-in and Kim Sung-yoon Lead Samsung to Dominant Victory Over Doosan in First Game Back

Samsung Lions bounced back from a crushing loss to claim a resounding victory over the Doosan Bears, defeating them 12-1 in their latest KBO League matchup on June 17.

Just one game after suffering a 12-run defeat, Samsung turned the tables in spectacular fashion against Doosan, dominating their opponents both on the mound and at the plate. The game also marked the first-team return of pitcher Won Tae-in and outfielder Kim Sung-yoon, both making an instant impact. Won threw a masterful seven shutout innings, reaffirming his role as Samsung's ace, while Kim recorded multiple hits in his comeback game.

Fueled by this surge, Samsung exploded offensively, scoring eight runs before the third inning ended. Doosan made the bold move to pull starter Cole Irvin as early as the bottom of the second, but their late effort saw them scraping up just one run in the eighth, falling short of any meaningful comeback.

With the decisive victory, Samsung reclaimed the fourth spot in the standings, while Doosan fell further behind NC, now trailing by six games—a result that brought contrasting fortunes for the two clubs.

Doosan is looking to bounce back by sending rookie Choi Min-seok to the mound. In his debut KBO season, Choi has posted a respectable 3.45 ERA and a WHIP of 1.47. While he has yet to face Samsung, his five shutout innings against KT on May 28 offer Doosan fans hope for a rebound.

Samsung, meanwhile, will counter with Lee Seung-hyun, who is enjoying excellent form. Lee has delivered strong performances in his recent starts on June 5 and June 12, notching two consecutive wins for his side with minimal runs allowed. The key question will be whether he can neutralize Doosan’s offense and extend Samsung’s newfound momentum sparked by Won’s previous outing.

For Doosan’s batting lineup, outfielder Jung Soo-bin will be a player to watch, coming off an impressive stretch with seven hits and a .500 batting average over his last five games. After their lopsided loss, Doosan will need their bats to come alive to close the gap.

On Samsung’s side, the team appears to be gaining momentum again. José Pirela Diaz hit his 25th home run of the season, but much of the recent spotlight has been on Koo Jauuk. Reviving his form in the previous game, Koo powered Samsung's offense with four hits on June 17, pointing to renewed stability in the lineup.

The standings remain razor-thin, with Samsung edging just half a game above Lotte. Every win is crucial, with a fierce battle unfolding for positions three through six.

The second game of the three-day series between Samsung and Doosan is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 18 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo = Yonhap News