Kang Min-ho's earnest prayer, did Kim Jae-yoon, who celebrated his birthday, respond?

Sep 17, 2025

'I prayed with my hands together to block it~'

Did Kang Min-ho's wish for Kim Jae-yoon's save come true. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook

'That's a relief!'

Samsung's Kang Min-ho expressed relief by putting his hands together on Kim Jae-yoon's save, which kept the lead. Closer Kim Jae-yoon took the mound in the ninth inning and allowed one run to the crisis, but he managed to secure the victory in the end.

Samsung won 7-5 against Lotte at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 16th. Samsung, which was trailing Lotte in sixth place by half a game, widened its gap by 1.5 games again with a victory against Lotte in fifth place.

3rd baseman Ko Seung-min is scoring the first run for Garabito's wild pitch at the top of the first inning with two outs and runners on the first and third bases.

Lotte first scored the first point. In the top of the first inning, with two outs and runners on the first and third bases made by Ko Seung-min's walk and Reyes' hit, Ko Seung-min took advantage of the wild pitch of opposing starter Garabito to home.

Lotte's lead didn't last long. After Samsung chased one run with Diaz's timely hit in the first and second bases with no outs in the fourth inning, third baseman Koo Ja-wook stepped home and succeeded in turning the tables 2-1 when Kim Young-woong hit a double play with no outs and runners on the first and third bases.

Yun Dong-hee, with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, hits a timely two-run hit to reverse the game.

Lotte succeeded in turning the tables again in the top of the sixth inning. After leadoff hitter Son Ho-young hit a double, pinch hitter Jeon Joon-woo got on base with a dune, and pinch runner Jang Doo-sung stole second base to create a situation with one out and runners on second and third bases. After Hwang Sung-bin struck out, Ko Seung-min walked to load the bases with two outs, and Yoon Dong-hee hit a timely hit with two RBIs to lead the game 3-2.

With no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Diaz hit a come-from-behind three-run home run and is running toward first base.

Samsung scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make a comeback. Samsung, which made the situation on the first and third bases with no outs with a walk by leadoff hitter Kim Ji-chan and a hit by Kim Sung-yoon, tied the game with Koo Ja-wook hitting a timely hit, and Diaz hit his 47th 120m three-run home run of the season, well over the left-center fence with no outs and runners on the first and second bases, making it a score of 6-3. In the seventh inning, the two teams exchanged one point each, making the score 7-4.

In the top of the ninth inning, Kim Jae-yoon gave up an RBI timely hit to Son Ho-young with one out and second base.

With a 7-to-4 lead and three points, closer Kim Jae-yoon took the mound. It was also Kim Jae-yoon's birthday.

Kim Jae-yoon began to show his anxiety by catching leadoff hitter Na Seung-yeop with a fly to third base at the end of the fourth pitch and giving up a double to Kim Min-sung to the right-center. Son Ho-young also got a hit and allowed a two-run chase.

With one out and a runner on the first base, Kim Jae-yoon caught Jeon Min-jae with a ground ball to shortstop, but allowed pinch hitter Park Chan-hyung to hit the middle field, facing a crisis of two outs and runners on first and second bases.

Kim Jae-yoon Lee Byung-hun battery sharing the joy of winning by 7 to 5, 2 points.

That was the end of the crisis. Kim Jae-yoon finished the game by treating Han Tae-yang with a fly to right field. With Samsung's 7-5 victory, Kim Jae-yoon made his 11th save on the day.

Samsung's 7-5 victory, Kang Min-ho and Koo Ja-wook beckon while watching Yoo Kang-nam on the ground.

Kang Min-ho smiles with relief as he sees Kim Jae-yoon protecting his victory

Kang Min-ho, who went to the ground after the victory, closed his eyes gently and put his hands together as if relieved as he looked at Kim Jae-yoon heading to the dugout while sharing high fives with his teammates. It was a prayer with the desire of a senior to protect the victory of a junior who celebrated his birthday. Kim Jae-yoon thanked Kim Sung-yoon for catching the last ball and shared the joy of victory.