Samsung Lions reach Korean Series for first time in 2 years after beating KIA 6-1

Samsung wins playoff finale 6-1 to advance 3-2 in series

Lions to face regular-season champion KT in Korean Series

Kim Ji-chan drives in two runs in second inning to seize control

Jurado limits KIA to five hits over seven innings

Samsung Lions closer Won Tae-in embraces catcher Kang Min-ho after the final out of Game 5 of the 2026 KBO postseason playoff against the KIA Tigers at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Sunday. [Yonhap]

The Samsung Lions punched their ticket to the Korean Series for the first time in two years Sunday, riding a dominant start from Ariel Jurado and a focused offensive effort to beat the KIA Tigers 6-1 in Game 5 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO postseason playoff at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu. Samsung won the best-of-five series three games to two and will face regular-season champion KT Corp in the Korean Series.

Samsung drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning when Choi Hyung-woo lined a two-out RBI single to center with runners on first and second. The Lions broke the game open in the second, when back-to-back singles by Kang Min-ho and Lee Jae-hyeon loaded the corners and Kim Ji-chan delivered a two-run single. Kim then stole a base, and Park Seung-gyu followed with an RBI single to right to push the lead to 4-0.

KIA cut the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the third when Park Jae-hyeon hit a run-scoring triple to right-center. Samsung answered in the bottom of the sixth, however, when Kim Ji-chan's drive turned into a two-out RBI triple after a misplay by the KIA left fielder. Park Seung-gyu then added an RBI single to left to make it 6-1 and put the game out of reach.

Samsung Lions outfielder Ku Ja-wook drapes a lion-emblazoned cape over starting pitcher Ariel Jurado after the Lions' 6-1 victory in Game 5 of the 2026 KBO postseason playoff against the KIA Tigers at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Sunday. [Yonhap]

Jurado went seven innings, allowing five hits and one run — none of them earned — while striking out three to shut down the KIA lineup. The win was Jurado's second of the series, having also taken the decision in Game 2. Samsung turned to Lee Seung-min in the eighth and closer Won Tae-in in the ninth to finish the job.

KIA starter Adam Oller took the loss after giving up six hits and four runs in just two innings. Yang Hyeon-jong entered in the third and held Samsung scoreless through the fifth, but surrendered two more runs in the sixth on a defensive error and an RBI hit. KIA managed only five hits on the night, with cleanup hitter Kim Do-yeong going 0-for-4.

Samsung last reached the Korean Series in 2024, when the Lions defeated the LG Twins three games to one. Last year, Samsung fell to the Hanwha Eagles two games to three. KIA, meanwhile, has reached the Korean Series 12 times — including the franchise's years as the Haitai Tigers — and won the championship every time, but has been eliminated in each of its last five playoff appearances.

Game 1 of the Korean Series between Samsung and KT is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at KT Wiz Park in Suwon.

attom@heraldcorp.com