Kia Tigers unleash opening inning salvo versus Samsung Lions, take 2-0 lead in KBO Korean Series

The Kia Tigers dominated Game 2 of the KBO Korean Series against the Samsung Lions off the back of a five-run first inning. The game was the second of a double-header after Game 1 was stopped due to inclement weather.

The Tigers took the second game of the best-of-seven series 8-3. Kia opened a five-spot in the first inning against Samsung's starter Hwang Dong-jae. He gave up five earned runs off five base hits and a walk and was subsequently pulled after 2/3 innings.

Kia's young star Kim Do-yeong continued to assert himself over the Lions' pitching. He was responsible for the first run batted in and capped off his night's work with a solo bomb in the bottom of the second inning. The KBO All-Star third baseman finished the game with a home run and two RBIs in four at-bats.

The Lions tried to mount a comeback through runs driven in by Kim Young-woong and Kim Hyeon-joon, along with Lewin Diaz's four base hits in five at-bats. However, their efforts were all for naught as the Tigers shut the door on the Lions in their home stadium in Gwangju.

The Kia Tigers now hold a 2-0 lead ahead of the next two games (three, if necessary) at the Lions' den in Daegu, located southeast of Seoul and north of the port city of Busan.

Game 3 of the KBO Korean Series will feature two former MLB players as starters. The Tigers will start former San Diego Padre and Milwaukee Brewer Eric Lauer, who had a 2-2 record and a 4.93 ERA in the regular season.

His opposite number will be Tokyo 2020 Bronze medalist Denyi Reyes who spent time with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. The righty boasts an impressive 11-4 record with 114 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.81 across 144 innings.

Tigers roar back at Lions to take Game 1 of KBO Korean Series

Game 1 of the KBO Korean Series saw the action postponed for more than 48 hours due to the inclement weather in Gwangju, South Korea. The game started on Monday and was resumed two days later.

Before the stoppage, the Samsung Lions were leading the home team Kia Tigers 1-0 and were on the verge of becoming the sixth-consecutive team in the home-away format of the Korean Series to claim the opening game on the opponent's turf.

However, the Tigers roared back as they overwhelmed the Lions with a four-run seventh inning when play resumed. Kia added another run in the bottom of the eighth to finish the contest at 5-1.