KIA Tigers took a breather with a suspended game declaration after their first run.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on Monday afternoon that it decided that the first game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO Korean Series held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field could no longer resume due to rain during the first half of the sixth inning, and declared a suspended game. It is the first suspended game in the history of the KBO postseason.메이저놀이터

While KIA's batting line-up struggled against Samsung starter Won Tae-in until the end of the fifth inning, James Nail, who faced Won Tae-in as a starter, recorded four hits (one homer) with two strikeouts and one run in five innings.

Kia, the No. 1 team in the regular season, had three weeks to reorganize itself, and enhanced its sense of play through practice games on Saturday (against the Sangmu game) and Sunday (against the Lotte Giants). As it has won all 11 Korean Series titles, it sought to revive its good memories from the first round.

However, Kia's game did not go as planned. KIA struggled somewhat by maintaining a 0 balance with Samsung until the fifth inning, and Nail allowed leadoff hitter Kim Hun-gon to throw a solo shot at the top of the sixth inning. The bench of Kia put Jang on the mound after a walk by its follow-up hitter Lewin Diaz, but Jang allowed no outs and runners on the first and second bases.

At this time, an unexpected situation occurred. The rain that had been falling throughout the game became stronger, and the referee stopped the game at Kim Young-woong's at-bat with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. More than 40 minutes have passed since the suspension of the game, and the suspended game was declared at 10:09 p.m.

KIA manager Lee Bum-ho, who met with reporters after the suspended game was declared, said, "I asked the players to be calm before the game, but I think they were nervous because it was the first game of the Korean Series. He seemed to be in a state of excitement. So if the game goes on tomorrow (22nd), there will be a sense of the game or something, and if we prepare well for what we lacked, I think we will have a better situation tomorrow."

"(Won Tae-in) is the king of multiple wins this season, so I thought it would not be easy to target him. He seemed to have good pitching, and I thought he would be in good condition because he only played once in the playoffs. Fortunately, Won Tae-in will not come out in tomorrow's game, and bullpen pitchers will come out, and our batters have played well against Samsung's bullpen pitchers, so we will prepare well while looking forward to it," he added.

It rained and stopped even before the start of the game. The start of the game was delayed by about an hour than scheduled. As such, it was difficult for the players to maintain their condition. There is also a rain forecast on the 22nd, so it is unclear whether the game will proceed or not.

What is the coach's opinion? "That's not our part but the job of the KBO and the umpires, so I think we should listen to the opinions of the KBO and the umpires as to why the game started. In a way, I think the interruption in the middle would have a better impact on our team," Lee said. "I think it's not a bad situation for the (suspended game) to start at 4 p.m. because we've experienced one game of the Korean Series."

He also mentioned starting pitcher Nail's pitching. "I think I pitched so well. I think I pitched so well after the 60th pitch. I tried to get him to pitch one more inning until the sixth inning. I tried to change the situation when I was in a crisis," coach Lee Bum-ho said. "I didn't mind the fact that I hit a home run (from Kim Heon-gon) because the batter hit it well. As I have found my condition in every aspect, including my condition and pitching capability, I expect that I will show better pitching going forward."

It has not been decided who will come up after the first round resumes. "I think we need to talk with our coaches about whether to raise the best player against Kim Young-woong or the best bunt defense player considering bunt," Lee said. "I saw Kim Young-woong try to hit the ball with one ball, but if I think bunt or something like this is not possible, I will think about whether to raise left-handed or right-handed pitchers because I think he will become aggressive."

Meanwhile, the first game between the two teams with a suspended game will resume at 4 p.m. on the 22nd. If the game is tied at the end of the ninth inning, overtime will be held. The second game will begin an hour after the first game ends. However, if the first game ends before 5:30 p.m., the second game will begin at 6:30 p.m. as scheduled.