SUWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — In a wild afternoon affair that defied pregame projections, the Samsung Lions weathered a furious early rally and a late solo shot to outlast the KT Wiz 8-6 on Saturday at a sun-drenched Suwon Baseball Stadium.

A crowd of 18,700 saw the Lions, installed as underdogs by sportsbooks and statistical models, seize immediate command with a four-run first inning, only to watch the Wiz roar back with a five-run second. Samsung’s bullpen ultimately slammed the door over the final three innings to secure the series victory.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived not during the early fireworks, but in the top of the eighth inning. Clinging to an 8-6 lead after KT’s Ahn Hyun-min had homered in the seventh, the Lions faced a critical juncture. With one out, Ryu Ji-hyuk singled and Kim Young-woong doubled, putting runners on second and third. Veteran catcher Kang Min-ho, who had already driven in two runs, then delivered the decisive blow, lacing a two-run single to center field. Those insurance runs provided a crucial three-run cushion, allowing Samsung to withstand the late pressure.

The contest began in stunning fashion. Facing KT starter So Hyeong-jun, Samsung’s Kim Ji-chan led off with a single. After two strikeouts, cleanup hitter Lewin Díaz stepped in. The first baseman, the clear top star for Samsung, launched a towering two-run homer to right field, setting an immediate tone. The Lions were far from done. In the second, Kang Min-ho doubled home Ryu Ji-hyuk, and the rout appeared to be on.

However, KT’s response in the bottom of the second was swift and brutal against Samsung starter Choi Won-tae. Jang Sung-woo singled, Kim Sang-su walked, and Oh Yoon-suk loaded the bases with another single. Ryu Hyun-in then cleared two runs with a single to center. Lee Gang-min and Kim Hyun-soo followed with run-scoring hits, with Hyun-soo’s double plating two to cap the five-run outburst and trim the deficit to 8-5.

From there, the game evolved into a battle of bullpens. Samsung’s Lee Seung-hyun entered in the sixth with a runner on second and one out, promptly recording a strikeout and a flyout to end the threat. He was credited with the win, his first of the season.

KT’s Ahn Hyun-min brought the home crowd to life in the seventh with a solo homer off reliever Miyaji Yura, making it 8-6. But Samsung’s Kang Min-ho answered in the eighth with his key two-run single.

In the ninth, Samsung closer Choi Ji-guang navigated around two hits to record a scoreless inning and earn his first save of the year, sealing the victory.

Díaz led the Lions’ 14-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, continuing his hot start to the season. Kang Min-ho drove in four runs on a 3-for-4 day. For the Wiz, Ahn Hyun-min went 3 for 5 with a home run, and Kim Hyun-soo added two RBIs.

The loss went to KT reliever Jeon Yong-ju, who fell to 1-1. Starter So Hyeong-jun lasted six innings, allowing nine hits and six earned runs while striking out seven.

With the win, Samsung improved its season record to 4-2-1 across all competitions, while KT fell to 5-2. The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday in Suwon.

The final combined score of 14 runs went over the pregame over/under line of 10.0, and Samsung covered the +1.5 run spread as a clear victor, contradicting Interstat’s game simulator, which had projected a 7-3 KT win, and its ELO system, which gave the Wiz a 53% probability of victory.