DAEGU, South Korea (Interstat) — A masterful pitchers’ duel dissolved into a stunning late-inning rally Thursday night as the Samsung Lions erupted for five runs in the eighth to stun the Doosan Bears 5-2 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

A crowd of 23,617 watched as the Lions, held to just two hits over the first seven innings by Doosan starter Choi Min-seok, sent 10 men to the plate in the decisive eighth, turning a two-run deficit into a three-run victory.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the bottom of the eighth inning. Entering the frame trailing 2-0 and having mustered little offense, the Lions’ lineup came alive against the Doosan bullpen. Kim Sung-yoon led off with a single, and Koo Ja-wook followed with an RBI single to center, finally putting Samsung on the board. After a Lewin Díaz single put runners on the corners, veteran Choi Hyoung-woo delivered a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game at 2-2. The rally then exploded when Ryu Ji-hyuk launched a two-run homer to right field, scoring Díaz and giving Samsung its first lead at 4-2. The Lions added one more run before the inning ended, completing the five-run outburst that decided the contest.

The comeback spoiled a brilliant outing from Doosan’s Choi Min-seok. The right-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out four. He faced minimal trouble, with Samsung’s only serious threat against him ending in a double play in the third inning.

Samsung’s victory was anchored by its own strong start from Lee Seung-hyun, who earned top star honors. Lee worked five innings, surrendering one run on two hits while striking out five. His effort kept the Lions within striking distance until the offense awoke.

Doosan had built its early lead without a hit in the second inning. They loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a walk before Lee Yu-chan drew another walk to force in the game’s first run. Daz Cameron then scored on a fielder’s choice by Park Ji-hoon. The Bears added a solo insurance run in the ninth when An Jae-seok homered off Samsung closer Kim Jae-yoon, but it was too little, too late.

Following Choi Min-seok, reliever Lee Byeong-heon pitched a perfect seventh inning. The game unraveled for Doosan in the eighth, however, with Samsung collecting four of its six total hits in the frame.

The Samsung bullpen quartet of Choi Ji-gwang, Lee Seung-min, Miyaji Yura, and Kim Jae-yoon combined to allow one run over the final four innings to secure the win. Yura was credited with the victory.

The result continued a seesaw series between the two Korean Baseball Organization rivals. After an 11-inning tie on Tuesday and a 13-3 Samsung blowout on Wednesday, Thursday’s game provided another dramatic twist.

With the win, Samsung evened its season record at 2-2-1. Doosan, which started the season with a win, has since struggled, falling to 1-3-1. The Bears have lost three straight decisions.

The game defied several pregame projections. While Interstat’s ELO system gave Samsung a 61 percent probability to win, Doosan had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite on the spread. The total of seven runs combined also fell well under the posted over/under line of 12.0, though the simulator’s projected final score of 5-4 was closely aligned with the actual outcome.

Both teams now turn their attention to new opponents. The Doosan Bears return to Seoul to open a three-game weekend series against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium on Friday. The Samsung Lions hit the road for a three-game set against the KT Wiz in Suwon, also beginning Friday.