The KIA Tigers forced a decisive fifth game in the 2026 KBO postseason playoffs, defeating the Samsung Lions 4–2 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on October 30. Kim Do-young sparked the offense with two hits and two runs scored, bringing his team back from the brink of elimination in the best-of-five series.
KIA Tigers Force Game 5 Against Samsung Lions
With the series tied at two games apiece, the Tigers kept their championship hopes alive behind four crucial runs in the seventh inning. Manager Lee Bum-ho’s squad finished the regular season in third place with a 79-2-63 record before defeating the fourth-place LG Twins in the semi-playoffs. After dropping two straight games earlier in the current series, KIA leveled the matchup to push the contest to a final elimination game.
The decisive fifth game is scheduled for November 1 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.
Kim Do-young Sparks the Offense
Batting second and playing third base, Kim drove the Tigers’ attack by keeping constant pressure on Samsung’s pitching staff.
“Not only myself, but our seniors and juniors were physically exhausted, and seeing that made me work harder,” Kim said after the game. “We’ve reached Game 5, and I will enter it with the absolute mindset that we cannot lose, concentrating entirely on winning.”
Managerial Decisions and Pitching Matchups for Game 5
Manager Lee confirmed that Kim will remain in the second spot in the batting order for the series finale. Kim noted that hitting second allows his turn in the order to come around faster, giving him more opportunities to put the ball in play and set up the heart of the lineup.
Samsung has named Ariel Jurado as its starting pitcher for Game 5. Jurado previously pitched 6.2 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Kim acknowledged the challenge posed by Jurado’s previous performance but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adjust.
“Jurado pitched very well in the second game, and our hitters recognize that,” Kim said. “He will likely throw a similar mix, but we have experienced it and can figure out how to attack it.”
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