"Diaz’s Big Swing Shakes Daegu"... Samsung Sets Up Fiery Playoff Clash with Hanwha for the First Time in 18 Years

[Financial News] One swing that split the night sky over Daegu changed everything.
Lewin Díaz connected with a 126 km/h changeup for a two-run homer that traveled 122 meters, shaking Daegu Samsung Lions Park. With that moment, the Samsung Lions soared to new heights in fall baseball.
In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs and a runner on first, tension was high as the score remained tied. SSG’s Lee Ro-woon threw a changeup down the middle, and Díaz did not miss his chance. The ball sailed over the right-field fence, signaling the return of the home run king. Kang Min-ho followed with a back-to-back home run, amplifying the excitement.
Usually expressionless, Díaz clenched his fist as he crossed home plate, and the Daegu crowd erupted. The roar that accompanied the home run was more than just a cheer for victory—it was a declaration that Samsung was back.
In this semi-playoff series, Díaz firmly established himself as the clutch performer, recording 6 hits in 16 at-bats, a .375 average, and 6 RBIs. He was voted series MVP, receiving 42 out of 75 votes from the press.
Ariel Jurado, the foreign ace who had hung his head after giving up a walk-off homer in Game 2, was a different pitcher this time. He delivered a near-perfect performance: 7 innings, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts, and no runs allowed. Jurado erased the nightmare of his ninth-inning relief appearance and left the mound with a roar. Although he did not get the win, his 7 innings symbolized the 'fall DNA' of the Samsung Lions.


Kwang-hyun Kim also lived up to his reputation, allowing just one hit over five innings and displaying his veteran poise. However, after issuing consecutive walks to Kang Min-ho and Jeon Byeong-woo in the third, he gave up a timely single to Kim Ji-chan, resulting in a run.
This moment proved to be the turning point in the duel between the two pitchers. It was the tenacity of the Samsung Lions that broke Kim’s perfection.
After Jurado left the game, the bullpen wavered briefly. However, rookie Bae Chan-seung struck out Guillermo Heredia and Han Yoo-seom in a critical situation to halt the momentum. In the ninth, 'Mr. October' Kim Jae-yoon took the mound, recording a perfect save with two strikeouts in one inning—his third of the series and a new semi-playoff record.
After the game, the Samsung Lions gathered in front of their fans, holding a banner that read, 'We will soar to greater heights.'
For the first time in 18 years since 2007, the Samsung Lions will face the Hanwha Eagles in the playoffs. The hope sparked by Díaz’s big swing now heads to Daejeon.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter