{
  "id": 16820358,
  "title": "Right-handers going toe-to-toe in pivotal KBO postseason game",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/right-handers-going-toe-to-toe-in-pivotal-kbo-postseason-game",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T00:08:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261028002200315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "With their best-of-five series in the South Korean baseball postseason tied at one game each, the Samsung Lions and the Kia Tigers will both start a right-hander with something to prove in their pivotal round two match in Daegu, South Korea. The two teams split the first two games of the postseason round, with the Tigers winning the first 5-1 and the Lions avenging with an 8-3 victory the following day at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. The series will now continue at the Tigers' home in Gwangju for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Friday at 6:30 p.m. starts. The home team Tigers will take the mound in Game 3, beginning with Japanese right-hander Keisho Shirakawa, who will face the Lions' Choi Won-tae. Shirakawa made a strong impression in his KBO postseason debut on October 20 against the LG Twins, limiting his opponents to a run on four hits over five innings, striking out nine. Although his strong performance was not enough to secure a win in a 13-1 loss to the Tigers, manager Lee Bum-ho was impressed with Shirakawa's performance. In their three regular-season meetings, Shirakawa had a 3.68 ERA, striking out 10 but walking 11 in 14 2/3 innings. Choi, on the other hand, has struggled in postseason history, with an 11.16 ERA in his 18 previous playoff games. However, he did pitch six shutout innings against the SSG Landers in the first round last year, and he had success against the Lions this year, allowing only one run in seven innings of one-run ball in Game 2 of their first series. Choi's performance in this series will be crucial, as the pressure is on him to build on his two strong outings from last year, not just rely on them as outliers.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- With their best-of-five series in the South Korean ba...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}