Samsung Lions Celebrate First Win of 2026 KBO Season: Jack O’Rourke’s Stellar Performance

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After a long wait, Jack O’Rourke finally broke through. He recorded his first win in Korea in his seventh start, and the Samsung Lions delivered a statement — their first victory of the season against the Kiwoom Heroes came in convincing fashion.

On May 5 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, Samsung routed Kiwoom 11-1 in a 2026 KBO League home game. The win ended a three-game skid to Kiwoom earlier this season and showed the lineup and pitching staff were firing on all cylinders.

Starter O’Rourke led the way. He tossed six innings, allowed four hits and one run, and struck out seven. After surrendering a solo homer in the second, he settled in, attacking the strike zone and keeping Kiwoom’s hitters off balance. O’Rourke, who had come up short in his first six starts, finally picked up his first victory (1-2) in his seventh outing.

The offense provided plenty of support. Samsung took an early lead with two runs in the first and blew the game open in the fifth with a five-run rally. Jeon Byeong-woo opened the scoring with a solo shot, Koo Ja-wook followed with a sacrifice fly, and Choi Hyung-woo crushed a three-run homer to left-center, quickly widening the margin to 9-1.

Koo made an immediate impact in his return. Coming off roughly 20 days of rehab from a rib injury, he rejoined the club and started in left as the No. 2 hitter, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. His presence energized the lineup on both sides of the ball.

Choi continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and anchoring the middle of the order. He also pushed his career hit total to 2,625. In the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Kim Sung-yoon added a two-run homer, and Samsung never let up on the attack.

A starter’s first win, a slugging return from an injured regular, and a middle-order eruption — Samsung packed the long-awaited formula for victory into one game.

Photo: Samsung Lions / Yonhap News Agency