In brief
Ariel Jurado sustained a flawless 7‑inning performance in Game 5 of the KBO postseason, allowing only one unearned run and earning the series MVP. With a 6‑1 win over the Kia Tigers and a sell‑out crowd of 23,550, the Samsung Lions secured a spot in the Korean Series against the KT Wiz.
The Samsung Lions gathered in Daegu Samsung Lions Park on a Sunday evening, with 23,550 fans filling the stadium to sell out as the team faced the Kia Tigers in Game 5 of the KBO postseason’s second round, the final game of a best‑of‑five series. The Tigers were forced to surrender six runs, giving the Lions a 6‑1 victory that clinched their ticket to the Korean Series.
Panamanian right‑hander Ariel Jurado was the star of the evening. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up a single unearned run on five hits while running the count of 1.32 ERA over the entire series to post an award‑winning performance. The pitcher’s continued success earned him the series MVP award after keying 47 of 79 votes cast by the media.
In Game 5, Jurado’s command was undeniable. He began with a solid first inning of no runs, then erased a leadoff walk in the second with a double‑play during a composure that kept the Tigers’ offense at bay. The only run he gave up, in the third inning, was an unearned one calculated after a first‑baseman error by Lewin Diaz and a triple by Park Jae‑hyun.
Kim Ji‑chan delivered the offensive fireworks for the Lions. The leadoff hitter racked up three hits and three RBIs in the game, driving in most of the runs that pushed the Lions to a comfortable lead. Their run support made Jurado’s job easier as the Tigers struggled to keep the ball in play.
The Tigers kept getting runners on base but Jurado’s mix of pitches made the difference. He illuminated his arsenal with 36 changeups, 26 two‑seam fastballs, 10 curveballs, and 10 cutters, tailoring each pitch to keep hitters off balance. He struck out the final two batters of the sixth inning to quell a potential rally and finished with a final out on a soft grounder in the seventh.
Jurado’s post‑game emotional moment with catcher Kang Min‑ho was a high‑point of the evening, as the two raised each other while the teams filed out of the dugout. He later was greeted with a handshake from pitching coach Choi Yil‑yeon after the walk to the clubhouse.
The Lions’ entry into the Korean Series is their second appearance within three seasons, following a 2024–23 run in which they were runners‑up to the Kia Tigers. Their final championship was in 2014, and they now chase a ninth title.
Upcoming Korean Series Match‑up
The Samsung Lions will face the KT Wiz in a best‑of‑seven championship series that will start on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at KT Wiz Park in Suwon. The Wiz received an automatic berth in the Korean Series, having not played since their regular‑season finale on October 12.
The KT Wiz are aiming for their second championship, building on a 2021 title haul and an appearance in the 2023 Korean Series, where they fell to the LG Twins. The Lions, meanwhile, seek their ninth crown by overcoming the challenge set by the Wiz’s recent success.
The Baseball Organization’s championship battle will mobilize fans in both teams’ hometowns, with the anticipation growing as the schedule around the finals progresses to match‑day showdown in Suwon. For the Samsung Lions, the postseason gems of Ariel Jurado mark a new chapter in their pursuit of another championship. The Tigers and the Wiz cannot wait to put their pitching and batting talents into the final test of the season.
