In brief
In Game 1 of the Korean Series, KT Wiz’s closer Park Yeong‑hyun turned a precarious eighth inning into a save after a series of missteps by his team's bullpen and a 7‑run rally by the Samsung Lions. Source Yonhap reports that Park’s confidence, routine, and his catcher Han Seung‑taek’s play were crucial in the 8‑7 triumph.
During Game 1 of the Korean Series on Tuesday, KT Wiz’s closer Park Yeong‑hyun declared that his confidence in himself and the support of his catcher, Han Seung‑taek, turned a dangerous eighth inning into a decisive 8‑7 victory over the Samsung Lions at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul.
According to Yonhap, the Wiz entered the eighth inning with an 8‑0 lead, but a string of relievers faltered, handing the Lions a five‑run onslaught in the seventh and a single in the eighth that brought the score to 8‑6. With the bases loaded and only one out, Park was summoned to settle the crisis.
Park had been in the bullpen finishing his routine – “No one can tell what will happen over the course of a game, and so I had gone through all of the usual things that I normally do,” the closer said. “My coaches had already told me I was going to pitch in this game no matter what. I was ready.”
His first pitch to Ryu Ji‑hyuk missed the zone, but on the second pitch Ryu connected for a flyball to left field. The runner at third, Koo Ja‑wook – still nursing a hamstring injury – could not sprint home, preventing a potentially rallying sacrifice fly. Park later reflected, “I thought I was going to be called in before the runners got on. All I was thinking about at the moment was to get outs no matter what.”
The tension escalated when Park's third‑pitch wildness over his catcher allowed Koo to score the Lions’ seventh run. Park admitted, “I was feeling pretty good about myself after the second out of that inning. And then the wild pitch was a wake‑up call for me. I had to really bear down after that.”
Despite the challenge, Park’s composure returned. He struck out Ryu on a fastball and then issued a ground ball to the right‑hander that was quickly retrieved. Finally, on the ninth pitch to Samsung’s long‑stop, Park rolled an inside‑unblock ball that triggered a grounder to his catcher, Han Seung‑taek, who covered the right‑hand base and secured the final out of the game.
Panoramic shots from the stadium’s grassy hill show the crowd erupting as the last play was completed, the final score reading 8‑7 in favor of the Wiz. Park’s performance, noted by Yonhap, exemplifies the mental grit required at the highest level of Korean baseball.
In the aftermath, Park’s focus on routine, confidence, and partnership with his catcher was highlighted as the key drivers that turned a potential game‑losing situation into a memorable save. The Korean Series now continues with the Samsung Lions poised to contest the next game.
