9/25 Roundup and News

How popular is Jerry Royster? Popular enough to start appearing in ads for Lotte. If I'm translating correctly(and I may not be), this reads, "Dream of Lotte" and "Do Lotte Castle Together." Personally, I think its great that a Korean company is willing to attach an African-American face to its name.

The Korea Times does a writeup on first pitches at baseball games. Nothing that interesting here, but Lee Myung-bak has yet to throw a pitch as president. I wouldn't be surprised if he made an appearance at this year's Korean Series.

The Korea Times also did a feature on the MVP race. My personal pick would be Kim Hyeon-su of the Doosan Bears. He's probably going to win the batting title this year and is as deserving as Karim Garcia and Kim Kwang-hyeon.

I believe this column is fairly entertaining. I believe the SK Wyverns are the best team in Asia right now and will finally bring home an Asian Series victory for Korea. I believe I will be cheering when this happens.

On to the roundup...

The Heroes 5, Doosan 2 (10)
W - Shingo Takatsu (1-0), L - Lee Jae-woo (11-3), S - Jo Yong-hoon (1)

The Heroes started the game with a 2-run rally off of Doosan starter, Kim Sang-hyeon. That would be all they would do against Kim. Kim worked 7 strong innings(100 pitches, 73 strikes) allowing just the 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 K's. The Heroes starter, Kim Su-kyeong was even better. He worked 8 strong innings(113 pitches, 68 strikes) surrendering 2 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks with 6 K's. The score would remain tied at 2, until The Heroes untied it in the top of the 10th. The Heroes struck for a 3-run rally off of Doosan reliever Lee Jae-woo. With runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, Jo Jeong-geun, delivered a base hit to left. The Doosan left fielder fired the ball towards the plate. The ball appeared to arrive before a sprinting Kim Min-woo made it to the plate, but the tag was applied late and Lee was called safe. A 2-RBI single from Jeong Seong-hoon accounted for the rest of the rally. In the bottom of the 9th with runners on 1st and 2nd with one out, Woori reliever, Jo Yong-hoon, got a much needed double play ball to get out of the jam and end the game.

SK 4, LG 3
W - Esteban Yan (1-0), L - Woo Kyu-min (2-7)

SK held a 3-2 advantage heading into the top of the 9th inning, but LG DH Seo Dong-wook clubbed his 2nd homer of the game to tie the game at 3. Seo was the Twins offense. He hit a 2-run bomb in the 6th to put LG on the board and a solo shot in the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, SK's Jeong Geun-woo drew a lead off walk to get the party started right. Then, Park Jae-sang bunted him over to 2nd. The next batter, Mo Chang-min, ripped a double down the 3rd base line to drive in Jeong and walk off the Twins.

Lotte 4, Samsung 1
W - Song Seung-joon (12-6), L - Jeon Byeong-ho (6-6), S - David Cortes (7)

I attended this game last night. I can't believe Samsung had a packed house for an essentially meaningless game. I'm used to having about 10 rows in the outfield to myself. It was shoulder to shoulder last night. Actually, it was a free night for college students plus insane Lotte fans making the trip to Daegu that filled the place up.

Song Seung-jeun didn't pitch nearly as well as his line would indicate. He was in trouble for most of his 5 innings(95 pitches, 46 strikes) of work, but Samsung usually let him off the hook. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits and 6 walks with 3 K's. Jeon Byeong-ho was as bad as his line indicated. He can't expect to win when he leaves pitches up in the zone to this Lotte offense. He lasted 4 2/3 innings(62 pitches, 38 strikes) allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk. The boxscore claims he struck a batter out. I'm assuming its not lying, but I can't remember who or how. Lotte centerfielder, Lee In-koo, delivered a 2-run double during a 3-run rally in the 5th inning. Lee finished 2-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Lotte 2nd baseman, Jo Seong-hwan also had a 2 RBI evening while going 2-4 with a double.