By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
All pre-match breakdowns said the 1st playoff series would depend on whether the Samsung Lions's rotation could contain the Lotte Giants' offense.
However, it was vice versa as the Lions hit the Giants pitchers hard with a postseason record 19 hits in a 12-3 victory in Game 1 in Busan, Wednesday.
Winning the opening game of the best-of-five series in front of a 30,000-sellout crowd ― most of them were Giants' passionate fans ― the Lions, who have advanced to the playoffs for the 12th straight year, took a big step forward.
Since the 1st playoff series was introduced in 1989, all winners of Game 1 have claimed the second round berth.
The Giants, who reached the postseason for the first time since 2000, collapsed after starter Song Seung-jun lasted just 2 2/3 innings, while allowing six runs on seven hits.
The home side snapped a scoreless tie in the second inning as right fielder Karim Garcia doubled to center-right field and second-year pro Son Kwang-min singled home to make it 1-0.
The Lions, which failed to score despite three hits in the first inning, struck right back in the third as 12 batters stepped to the plate.
Park Han-yi led off with a double and scored on third baseman Park Sok-min's single to tie it 1-all. Yang Joon-hyuk's single and Choi Hyung-woo's intentional walk loaded the bases.
Shortstop Park Jin-man hit a sacrifice fly to right for 2-1 and Chae Tae-in added an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Giants American manager Jerry Royster lifted Song for reliever Lee Yong-hoon, who was not enough to stop the Lions.
The right-hander allowed four runs on two hits and as many walks before ending the inning on Yang's fly out.
The Lions, based in Daegu, put on two runs in the fifth as Yang hit a double and added three runs on two singles from Sok-min and catcher Jin Kab-young.
Lions starter Bae Young-soo yielded three runs and six hits in five innings and Sok-min was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game.
Son Min-han will start for the Giants, while the Lions will go with American John Ennis in Game 2, which will take place in Busan at 6 p.m., Thursday.