Daegu:For the first time in his three-year managerial career in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Kia Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho experienced a postseason series loss.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the defeat occurred on Sunday when the Tigers were beaten by the Samsung Lions 6-1 in Game 5 of the second round at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. This marked a departure from Lee's successful first year, where he led the Tigers to a Korean Series title by defeating the Lions in five games.

This year, the Tigers commenced their postseason in the best-of-five first round and swept the 2025 champions LG Twins. After winning the opener of the second round, the Tigers lost the next two games, bringing them to the brink of elimination. They managed to force a deciding Game 5 with a win in Game 4 but could not secure another victory.

Despite the loss, Lee expressed gratitude towards his players for their effort throughout the postseason. He acknowledged the challenges faced and emphasized the need for improvement and preparation for the next season. Tigers starter Adam Oller struggled early in Game 5, allowing four runs on six hits in just two innings, which contributed to the team's defeat.

Lee highlighted the importance of learning from this experience, specifically focusing on the development of young players and improvement strategies for future success. He stressed the necessity of not assuming a return to the postseason next year without significant preparation and learning from this year's mistakes.