DAEGU, South Korea (Interstat) — The Kia Tigers defeated the Samsung Lions 12-3 on Thursday evening at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, improving to 52-45-2 while Samsung fell to 58-37-1. Kia erupted for five runs in the second inning, highlighted by Kim Tae-gun’s three-run homer, and never trailed. Harold Castro went 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Kim Do-young added a solo shot in the third. Samsung answered with two runs in the bottom of the second, but Kia extended its lead on Castro’s two-run homer in the seventh and a run-scoring single by Kim Sun-bin. Starting pitcher Naile earned the win, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts over six innings. Chris Paddack took the loss, surrendering six earned runs in five innings. Attendance was 24,000. Kia outhit Samsung 14-12. The teams split the first two games of this series, with Samsung winning 12-5 on Tuesday and Kia winning 9-4 on Wednesday. Kia next faces the NC Dinos, while Samsung travels to play the Lotte Giants.