DAEGU (Interstat) — The Doosan Bears scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning, including a grand slam from Kang Seung-ho, to rally past the Samsung Lions 9-7 on Friday evening at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The comeback victory before 24,000 spectators lifted Doosan to 24-27-1 while Samsung dropped to 30-19-1.

Samsung took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kim Ji-chan singled to center and scored on a single by Koo Ja-wook, giving the Lions a 1-0 advantage. The lead grew in the fourth inning when Jeon Byeong-woo was hit by a pitch and Kang Min-ho followed with a two-run homer to left field. Later in the frame, Park Gye-beom bunted for a single, Kim Ji-chan doubled to left-center to drive in Park, and Koo Ja-wook doubled to left field to plate Kim Ji-chan, making it 6-0.

Doosan responded in the fifth inning. Park Ji-hoon singled, Son Ah-seop singled and Daz Cameron launched a three-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to 6-3. The Bears threatened again in the seventh and eighth innings but could not score. Samsung added a run in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run by Jeon Byeong-woo, extending the lead to 7-3.

The Bears erupted in the ninth. Son Ah-seop led off with a single, Daz Cameron walked and Yun Jun-ho walked to load the bases. Park Chan-ho singled to center field, scoring Son Ah-seop and keeping the bases loaded for Kang Seung-ho, who crushed a 1-0 pitch over the wall for a grand slam, giving Doosan an 8-7 lead. Jung Soo-bin followed with a solo homer to right field, capping the six-run outburst. The Lions went down in order in the bottom of the ninth against Doosan closer Park Chi-guk, who struck out two in a perfect inning.

Kang Seung-ho finished 2 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs, all coming in the decisive ninth inning. His grand slam was his first hit in four games; he had gone 0 for 2 on Thursday, 0 for 3 on Wednesday and 0 for 3 on Saturday before Friday’s breakthrough. Daz Cameron went 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, providing the only Doosan offense until the ninth. Jung Soo-bin added a solo homer in his 1-for-4 night. For Samsung, Kang Min-ho went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Jeon Byeong-woo went 1 for 3 with a solo homer and an RBI.

Doosan starter Lee Young-ha worked a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit and striking out one. Kim Jeong-woo tossed a perfect inning with two strikeouts. Park Chi-guk closed with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one. Samsung starter Won Tae-in pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out five, leaving with a 6-3 lead. Lee Jae-hee struck out three in a scoreless eighth inning, but the Lions’ bullpen could not hold the advantage in the ninth.

The game was the first of a three-game series between the teams. Doosan entered having lost four of its previous five games, including a 11-3 defeat to KT Wiz on Thursday. Samsung had won eight of its previous 10, including a 10-1 victory over Shinsegae Landers on Thursday. The teams last met in late April, when Doosan took two of three in Seoul.

Samsung’s loss snapped a three-game winning streak. Doosan’s win improved its road record and gave the Bears a much-needed boost as they prepare for the remainder of the series. The two teams will meet again Saturday and Sunday at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Doosan then returns home to host Hanwha Eagles, while Samsung hosts NC Dinos next week.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Samsung Lions 6, Doosan Bears 4. The ELO system gave Samsung a 63.70 percent probability to win, and Samsung was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The combined total of 13 runs went under the over/under line of 10.0.