9/9 Roundup and News

Doosan 8, Seoul Heroes 3
W - Geum Min-cheol (7-1), L - Kim Yeong-min (1-2), S - Park Jeong-bae (1)

Another day, another boring Doosan W over the Heroes. Ho-hum. Doosan starting pitcher Geum Min-cheol delivered a "Doosan CG." He tossed 5 innings(95 pitches, 47 strikes). Geum gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 6 walks while striking out 3. Geum was helped out by the MIGHTY Doosan offense. Outfielder Min Byeong-hyeon and 2nd baseman Kim Jae-ho both drove in a pair. Infielder Lee Won-seok lead the way for the Bears by going 2-3 with a walk, a double, 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. Doosan reliever Park Jeong-bae earned the save by tossing 3 scoreless innings.

Samsung 8, LG 7
W - Kim Sang-su (3-3), L - Kyeong Heon-ho (2-1)

This was a game that even though the Lions "earned" a victory, it felt like they lost. Samsung was winning 7-0 after 6 innings and let the Twins get back into the game. After Brandon Knight tossed 6 2/3 solid innings, Samsung used 7(!) relief pitchers to finish the game. The bullpen was apalling. After LG tied the game, I was convinced Samsung had packed it in for the night and would settle for the tie. If it weren't for Samsung loading the bases in the 11th and scoring the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch(talk about your cold shower for LG fans) we would have been stuck with our first time of the season. Instead the Lions now hold a tenuous 2 game lead over Lotte for the #4 playoff spot. Center fielder Park Yong-taek lead the LG offense by going 3-5 with 2 triples(WTF!), a stolen base and 3 RBIs. Corner infielder Park Seok-min was the leader for Samsung. Park was 2-3 with a walk, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 1 run scored.

SK 3, KIA 1
W - Goh Hyo-joon (10-10), L - Rick Guttormson (13-4), S - Gary Glover (1)

SK has crawled back to one game behind KIA for 1st place. We've got a pennant race! After SK starting pitcher Song Eun-beom was pulled after facing 3 batters and not recording an out, SK went into Korean playoff/all-hands-on-deck mode for the game. If anyone had a useful arm, there was a chance they could see action in this game. Rick Guttormson turned in a solid outing, but he didn't get much help from the KIA offense. Rick tossed 7 innings(121 pitches, 75 strikes) of 3-run baseball. Rick allowed 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. All of the damage came in the 6th inning. SK 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo(so much for the sore shoulder) connected for a 2-run homer and 1st baseman Park Jeong-kwon delivered a solo blast. The SK bullpen deserves some recognition here. After Song was pulled, 4 relievers tossed 9 innings of 4-hit baseball. That's unheard of.