KIA Tigers Claim Thrilling 2-1 Victory Against Samsung Lions: Key Players Shine in 2026 KBO Preseason Finale

Oller / Photo=DB

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seoyoung] The KIA Tigers held on for a thrilling 2-1 win.

On March 24 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, KIA beat the Samsung Lions 2-1 on the road in the final exhibition game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

KIA closed out the exhibition slate with 4 wins, 2 ties and 6 losses. Samsung finished 6-6.

KIA starter Oller earned the victory, throwing four scoreless innings while allowing two hits, issuing three walks and striking out eight.

At the plate, Kim Do-young recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.

Samsung starter Oraclin took the loss, working 3 1/3 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

KIA struck first. In the top of the first, leadoff batter Kim Ho-ryeong drew a walk. Yoon Do-hyun struck out swinging, but Kim Do-young slapped a first-pitch single to put runners in scoring position. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, and Castro reached on a fielder’s choice at third, allowing Kim Ho-ryeong to score.

Samsung left opportunities on the board. In the bottom of the second, Diaz drew a walk to lead off. Choi Hyung-woo struck out, but Kim Young-woong followed with a single to right to create a 1st-and-2nd, one-out chance. Samsung couldn’t push a run across as the next hitters failed to deliver. In the third, Kim Sung-yoon’s hit and a Diaz walk produced a 2-out, 1st-and-2nd situation, but again the rally stalled.

After escaping that threat, KIA kept the momentum. In the top of the fourth, Park Min opened with a single and advanced to second on Dale’s grounder. Kim Tae-gun’s single put runners at first and third with one out, and Lee Chang-jin followed with an RBI single to left, giving KIA a 2-0 lead.

Samsung continued to squander chances. In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs Kim Sung-yoon singled and Koo Ja-wook drew a walk to set up a 1st-and-2nd look, but Diaz struck out looking to end the inning without a run.

Silent through six innings, Samsung’s offense finally woke up in the seventh. With two outs and nobody on, Lee Jae-hyun and Kim Sung-yoon delivered back-to-back singles. Koo Ja-wook then hit an RBI single to left, bringing in the runner and cutting the deficit to 2-1. Diaz followed with a walk to load the bases with two outs, but Hansuho’s ground ball ended the threat and Samsung couldn’t tie the game.

That would be as far as the comeback went. KIA brought in closer Jung Hae-young for the bottom of the ninth to protect a one-run lead. Jung induced a groundout from leadoff batter Shim Jae-hoon, then allowed a single to Kim Heon-gon before retiring Hong Hyun-bin and Jeon Byung-woo on groundouts to preserve the 2-1 victory.

[Sports Today reporter Shin Seoyoung sports@stoo.com]
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