KIA Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho (42) cited the failure to target opposing ace Danny Reyes rather than being hit with four home runs due to a loss in Game 3 of the Korean Series.메이저사이트

As a result, the key is how much fire the KIA batters will make in the match against Won Tae-in, another ace of the Samsung Lions, who will face in Game 4 on the 26th.

KIA lost 2-4 in the away game against Samsung in Game 3 of the "2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Korean Series" at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 25th.

On the day, Kia strangely lost a point. It had four solo shots against Samsung's batting lineup, which boasts the No. 1 home run during the regular season.

On the day, Samsung set a new Korean Series record with four home runs. KIA's predecessor Haitai Tigers called Binggrae (currently Hanwha) home in Game 4 in 1989 and hit four home runs, while the Hyundai Unicorns exploded four cannon balls in Game 2 against Samsung in 2004 and the Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom) in Game 4 against Samsung in 2014. 

Samsung, which allowed the most home runs in a single game of the Korean Series twice in the past, gave up one solo home run to Lee Sung-kyu and Kim Young-woong in the third and fifth innings, and in the seventh inning, reliever Jeon Sang-hyun gave up two more runs on Kim Heon-gon and Park Byung-ho.

KIA's Choi Hyung-woo in the sixth inning and Kim Do-young in the eighth inning hit a timely hit, respectively, to chase, but no follow-up hits were made.

After the loss, coach Lee said, "It's okay to give up four solo home runs," and added, "The loss was not able to target the opponent's starting Reyes," pointing out that the loss was in a poor lineup.

Reyes, who was previously named the MVP of the playoffs by winning two games in the playoffs against the LG Twins, also stopped KIA's batting line with five hits and one run (unearned) in seven innings in his Korean Series debut, winning three consecutive postseason games this year.

"We failed to score in the fifth inning with one out and runners on the first and second bases, and failed to score additional points after adding one point in the sixth inning," manager Lee said, adding, "If the KS is prolonged, Reyes can take the mound again, so we will do more research on Reyes." According to Samsung's current rotation, Reyes is expected to play once more if the game goes to Game 7. 

KIA will face Samsung's domestic ace Won Tae-in in Game 4.

Won Tae-in is also a tricky pitcher for KIA. In the first game held on the 21st, Won Tae-in had already struggled with empty balls by only getting two hits in five innings. The decision was suspended due to rain in the top of the sixth inning, and Won Tae-in's inability to play in the remaining innings two days later became a help from KIA's point of view. At that time, Kia scored four runs in the seventh inning and one run in the eighth inning to secure a 5-1 upset victory.

As there is no rain forecast in Gwangju on Wednesday, Kia's batters will have to overcome Won Tae-in to secure their third win. "The fourth game will be held tomorrow during the daytime (2 p.m.). I will rest well without any physical problems and prepare to target Won Tae-in as the starting pitcher for Samsung tomorrow," Lee said.