7/16 Roundup and News

SK 10, LG 4
W - Kim Kwang-hyeon (11-2), L - Bong Jung-geun (7-9)

This match up of Korean aces clearly went to Kim. Dr. Bong endured his worst outing of the season last night. The Good Doctor only stuck around for 2 innings and was lit up for 7 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. Kim wasn't great, but Bong was so awful that it didn't really matter. Kim tossed 6 innings(108 pitches, 61 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He gave up hits and 3 walks while only striking out 3. SK right fielder Park Jae-hong enjoyed a great day at the plate. Park went 2-4 with a homer, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. SK 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo and catcher Jeong Sang-ho drove in 2 runs apiece.

Seoul Heroes 6, KIA 2
W - Lee Hyeon-seung (10-6), L - Seo Jae-wong (2-3)

This game was also all about the starting pitching. Lee was solid, while Seo...wasn't. Heroes starter Lee Hyeon-seung threw 6 1/3 innings(103 pitches, 65 strikes) of 2-run ball. Lee only gave up 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out only 1. Seo was battered and yanked after a rough 3rd inning. After a double steal put runners on 2nd and 3rd, Heroes slugger Cliff Brumaugh blooped a single into right to score both runs. Heroes left fielder Doug Clark went for a combo meal last night. He homered and stole a base while going 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. He's turning into Mr. Everything for the Heroes. KIA 3rd baseman Kim Sang-hyeon was one of the few bright spots for the Tigers. Kim went 2-4 with a solo homer.

Doosan 12, Samsung 11
W - Geum Min-cheol (3-1), L - Oh Seung-hwan (2-2), S - Lee Yong-chan (19)

This game was tough to watch. Literally. The restaurant we were at last night had dreadful reception on the one big screen TV. Samsung built up a 7-2 lead in the 3rd inning, but the embattled Samsung bullpen allowed the Bears to claw their way to a W. Samsung held an 11-9 lead in the 8th inning, but the Bears got to both Kwon Hyeok and Oh Seung-hwan. I'm starting to think there's a hidden injury with Oh. It wouldn't be the first time. With one out in the 8th inning, Doosan shortstop Son Si-hyeon tagged Kwon Hyeok for a solo homer. After Oh Seung-hwan struggled to record outs and put 2 men on, Samsung turned to Bae Yong-su to get them out of the jam. At this point at dinner I started drinking soju straight from the bottle. Bae loaded the bases and then gave up a base hit to Son Si-hyeon. 2 runs would score on the play and Doosan would take a 12-11 lead. At the plate for Samsung, DH Yang Joon-hyeok, left fielder Choi Hyeong-woo and 1st baseman Chae Tae-in all drove in 3 runs apiece. Son and Kim Dong-ju drove in 3 apiece for Doosan, but DH Choi Joon-seok enjoyed the biggest night of all. Choi went 2-3 with 3 walks and 4 RBI. The two teams combined to use 15 pitchers. Yecccchhh.

Lotte 7, Hanhwa 6 (10)
W - Jon Adkins (3-2), L - Hwang Jae-gyu (0-3)

I caught the end of this one after the Samsung/Doosan game finished. With one out in the top of the 8th inning, Hanhwa's Yeon Kyeong-heum hit a solo homer. That's not the interesting part. In the scrum for the ball, a fight broke out in the stands and they actually showed most of it on TV. It appeared that two of the older gentlemen in the group around the homerun ball exchanged words and then exchanged blows. I saw punches, kicks, even hair pulling while these two guys rolled across 5 aisles of seats. What made this tussle funny was that every time they cut back to it on TV, it escalated. At first, it was just two guys. Then ten. When they cut back the 3rd time it looked like 20 were involved while one scared security guard tried to bring some sense of order. I've watched the replay on Naver at least 20 times. It's my Zapruder film. If you watch the full game at Naver, the fight is around the 198:00, 199:00 mark. Reccomended viewing!

The tussle overshadowed what was a great late inning comeback by Lotte. The Giants scored 4 runs during the 8th, 9th and 10th innings to earn the W. The Giants tied the game in the 9th inning when Hong Seong-heun delivered an RBI single into right field. Lotte walked off the Eagles in the 10th on another RBI single from Hong Seong-heun. The Lotte DH earned the ice water shower from his teammates. Hanhwa's Eric Junge made his KBO debut. Junge looked competent! He threw 5 2/3 innings of 3-run ball. He gave up 7 hits, 2 walks and 1 hit batsman while striking out 3. Some other stuff may or may not have happened, but DID YOU SEE THE FIGHT?!?!?!