Young slugger makes emphatic postseason debut with big home run

By Yoo Jee-ho

SUWON, South Korea, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Before making his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason debut Tuesday night against the Samsung Lions, KT Wiz designated hitter Ahn Hyun-min said he had grown tired of waiting and he was getting antsy. The opening game of the Korean Series at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, just south of Seoul, was still hours away.

After all, the Wiz, after finishing first in the regular season, had earned a bye to the Korean Series and had not played since Oct. 12, the final day of the regular season. Playing scrimmages had not been enough to get Ahn's competitive juices flowing.

Once the game started, Ahn made the most of it, hitting his first career postseason home run and scoring twice.

The Wiz jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held on to win by 8-7.

Batting third, Ahn drew a four-pitch walk against starter Choi Won-tae in the bottom of the first inning. Even with the dangerous Sam Hilliard hitting behind Ahn, the Lions were going to be careful with Ahn, who has established himself as a feared slugger in just his second season thanks to his prodigious power.

Hilliard doubled in two runners, including Ahn, with a towering double for a 2-0 lead and an infield single later in the inning put the Wiz up 3-0.

Ahn stepped in for the second time in the third inning, following Kim Min-hyuck's leadoff double. Choi could ill afford to pitch around Ahn this time. And when Choi threw him a mediocre changeup that caught the middle of the plate, Ahn hammered it to left field for a two-run homer -- giving the Wiz a 5-0 lead and chasing Choi from the game.

"It feels great to win an ever-important first game," Ahn said. "We had some tough situations and it makes this victory that much sweeter."

The Lions scored seven unanswered runs late before coming up short in their comeback bid.

"Looking back, the home run I hit gave us some crucial runs," Ahn said. "But I was also disappointed with some at-bats from today. I will make sure I won't have anything like that in tomorrow's game."

Asked if he was nervous at all during his first Korean Series appearance, Ahn deadpanned, "I didn't play in the outfield today. I didn't have anywhere to feel nervous at."

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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