Daegu: The Hanwha Eagles are on the verge of their first Korean Series appearance in nearly two decades following a tense 5-4 victory against the Samsung Lions on the road.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Eagles’ triumph in Game 3 of the best-of-five Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason series puts them ahead 2-1, with a chance to clinch the series in Game 4 on Wednesday in Daegu.

A pivotal moment came in the fifth inning when Roh Si-hwan hit a decisive two-run homer, propelling the Eagles into the lead. Moon Dong-ju, initially a starter but now a reliever, delivered an impressive performance by pitching four scoreless innings, securing the win at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The Eagles are now just one win away from facing the LG Twins in the Korean Series, a stage they haven’t reached since 2006.

In an evenly matched game, both teams’ starting pitchers, Ariel Jurado for the Lions and Ryu Hyun-jin for the Eagles, managed to keep the scoreline at zero through three innings, cheered on by a sellout crowd of 23,680. The Eagles broke the deadlock in the top of the fourth inning with Ha Ju-suk’s double and Lee Do-yun’s single, establishing a 2-0 lead.

The Lions responded in the bottom of the fourth with two home runs, including a three-run shot by Kim Young-woong, followed by Kim Tae-hoon’s solo homer, giving the Lions a 4-2 edge. However, the Eagles quickly reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning, thanks to back-to-back doubles from Son Ah-seop and Luis Liberato, and Roh Si-hwan’s crucial two-run homer.

Despite Ryu’s struggles in the fourth inning, the Eagles’ bullpen, led by Moon Dong-ju, managed to hold the Lions at bay. Moon’s standout performance, featuring multiple strikeouts, secured his first career postseason win and kept the Eagles in a position to close out the series.

The Eagles will aim to secure their spot in the Korean Series on Wednesday, with rookie pitcher Jeong Woo-joo set to start. Jeong, known for his strong performances against the Lions during the regular season, will face off against the Lions’ ace Won Tae-in, who has excelled in the postseason. The matchup promises to be an exciting contest, with the Eagles hoping to end their long wait for a Korean Series appearance.