Wiz hold off Lions in Korean Series opener
SUWON, South Korea, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- The KT Wiz edged out the Samsung Lions 8-7 to open the South Korean baseball championship series at home Tuesday, after nearly blowing an eight-run lead in late innings.
Slugger Ahn Hyun-min smacked a two-run home run in his postseason debut and starter Davis Daniel threw six solid innings for the Wiz's victory in Game 1 of the Korean Series before a sellout crowd of 17,700 at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Sam Hilliard had three hits and two RBIs from the cleanup spot.
Sam Hilliard of the KT Wiz celebrates after hitting a two-run double against the Samsung Lions during Game 1 of the Korean Series at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
The Wiz enjoyed an 8-0 lead through six innings, before the Lions punched back with five runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
Closer Park Yeong-hyun recorded the final five outs, the last three via strikeouts, to lock down the nervy victory.
The Wiz launched three home runs in this game, as the teams each had 10 hits.
Game 2 of this best-of-seven battle will also be in Suwon at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In the 42 previous editions of the Korean Series, Game 1 winners went on to capture the title 31 times.
Ahn Hyun-min of the KT Wiz celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Samsung Lions during Game 1 of the Korean Series at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
KT Wiz starter Davis Daniel pitches against the Samsung Lions during Game 1 of the Korean Series at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
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