7/2 Roundup and News

Jee-ho at the Joongang Daily puts his Spin on the KBO computer controversy. I disagree completely with his take, but at least he put some thought into writing it and actually has a fresh opinion on it.

On to the roundup...

Injured Lotte 1st baseman Kim Joo-chan is a while away from returning.

Lotte 4, LG 3
W - Kang Yeong-sik (3-2), L - Shim Su-chang, S - Jon Adkins (15)

With the score tied at 3 in the top of the 7th inning, Lotte 1st baseman Park Jong-yoon(season debut) was hit by a pitch and made a slow, gimpy trot down to 1st. Lotte catcher Choi Ki-moon(.277/.356/.446) drew a walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 0 outs. Lee Seung-hwa came in as a pinch runner for Park. Jerry Royster wanted a runner without a welt on his leg on 2nd. Lotte shortstop Park Ki-hyeok(.222/.291/.265) was able to get the bunt down and advance both runners. Lotte lead off hitter Park Jeong-joon(.331/.419/.527) struck out for the 2nd out of the inning. The next batter, pinch hitter, Jeong Joon-woo(.250/.238/.300), delivered a base hit through the right side. Lee was able to score easily, but Choi was thrown out at home. Lotte carried a 4-3 lead into the 9th inning, Jon Adkins(3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) tossed a scoreless 9th inning for the save. Infielder Lee Dae-ho(.285/.365/.504) enjoyed a solid evening for the Giants. Lee finished 2-3 with a double, a homer, 2 RBIs and 1 run scored.



Seoul Heroes 3, Doosan 2
W - Song Shin-yeong (2-0), L - Lee Yong-chan (0-2)

This one made me smile. If there's any team I have any animosity towards, its Doosan. Their style of play is robotic, they don't let their starters go deep into games and they bounced my beloved Lions from the post season last year. Doosan held a 2-1 lead in the 9th innings. Both Doosan runs came on solo homers. 3rd baseman Lee Won-seok(.234/.280/.377) went deep in the 3rd inning and DH Min Byeong-heon(.269/.321/.407) homered in the 8th. The only Heroes run came when Doug Clark(.290/.376/.456) scored on 2nd baseman Kim Il-kyeong's(.296/.353/.359) double in the 5th inning. With a runner on 2nd and two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Heroes 3rd baseman Hwang Jae-gyun(.290/.351/.493) took a pitch from Doosan closer Lee Yong-chan(2.49 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) up the middle for an RBI single. Hwang's base hit tied the game at 2. Hwang made a mad dash to second and came in juuuuust under the tag from Doosan shortstop Son Si-hyeon. Doug Clark was able to poke a single through the left side. The ball rolled under Doosan left fielder Kim Hyeon-su's glove and got away from him. The KBO batting champ looked on in disbelief as the winning run crossed the plate. Doug Clark got the full treatment from his teammates. I still can't believe no one ever gets hurt after a game-winning hit in the KBO.



SK 11, Hanhwa 3
W - Gary Glover (2-0), L - Kim Hyeok-min (6-8)

Do wins against Hanhwa count the same as a win against Doosan? Shouldn't that be a special column? Right now Gary Glover(0.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP) should be 1-1-0. 1 win, 1 win against Hanhwa and 0 losses. The Glove tossed 6 shutout innings(104 pitches, 68 strikes). He gave up 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 7. SK hit a pair of homers in the first inning and the game was pretty much over after that. Left fielder Park Jae-sang(.305/.393/.447) lead off the game with a solo blast and 1st baseman Park Jeong-kwon(.278/.367/.480) added a 2-run bomb. Park Jae-sang enjoyed facing the Hanhwa Zombies an awful lot. Park finished 3-4 with a double, 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. There was some good news for Hanhwa fans. Hanhwa slugger Kim Tae-gyun(.306/.361/.507) hit his first homer since his return from the DL. Kim went 2-5 with a solo homer and a pair of K's.



KIA 14, Samsung 9
W - Son Yeong-min (2-1), L - Kim Sang-su (2-3)

I really can't believe this game was played. It was pissing all day in Colorful Daegu and I fully expected this one to be called. The game was stopped twice for rain delays, but the umpires chose to press on. I really wished this one was called.

KIA absolutely pummelled Samsung pitching. 14-9 makes this game sound closer than it really was. Samsung rallied for 4 meaningless runs in the bottom of the 9th to make the final a bit easier to stomach. KIA 2nd baseman Ahn Chi-hong(.243/.301/.433) lead the charge for KIA. Ahn went 2-7 with 2 solo homers from the lead off spot. Outfielder Lee Jong-beom(.294/.347/.384) finished 4-5 with a walk, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Catcher Kim Sang-hoon(.225/.335/.364) went 2-5 with a walk, a double, 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. The only Lion that seemed to enjoy the weather was career home run leader Yang Joon-hyeok(.321/.453/.553). Yang banged out 3 RBIs and scored once while going 3-4 with a walk and a double. On the mound....nothing good happened for either side. Well, KIA reliever Son Yeong-min(3.36 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) earned the W by tossing 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. Son allowed 4 hits and struck out 2.