KIA 5, SK 3
W - Aquilino Lopez, L - Goh Hyo-joon, S - Yoo Dong-hoon
KIA has a 1-0 series lead
This was possibly the most enjoyable game that the 2009 KBO post season has offered so far. The game had a flow to it. The early innings flew by and the late innings were a chess match. A one-sided chess match, but a chess match nonetheless.
KIA starter Aquilino Lopez did what he has done all season. He did a good job of getting out of jams, he kept his team in the game and he ate up a lot of innings. KIA has been able to keep the pressure off of their bullpen with starters like Lopez and Guttormson working late into games. Lopez tossed 8 innings(122 pitches, 75 strikes) of 3-run baseball. He gave up only 6 hits, 2 walks and 1 hit batsman while striking out 7.
SK starter Ken Kadokura was solid. He seemed to find that extra playoff gear that veteran's seem to summon in October. It's how a mediocre starter can gut his way through a tough October start. Kadokura threw 5 innings(73 pitches, 44 strikes) of 1-run ball. If he hadn't pitched a few days ago, he probably would have gone a bit longer. Kadokura allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 7.
SK drew first blood in the 3rd inning. SK shortstop Na Ju-hwan scored on a seeing-eye single off the bat of right fielder Park Jae-hong. SK added a 2nd run in the 4th inning thanks to back-to-back doubles from 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo and 1st baseman Park Jeong-kwon. Park just missed a homerun. His double bounced in front of the center field wall and Jeong was able to score easily.
KIA got on the board in the bottom of the 4th. With runners on the corners and 1 out, KIA 3rd baseman/MVP candidate Kim Sang-hyeon hit a TOWERING flyball to right to get KIA their first run of the game. The Tigers would take a 3-2 lead in the 6th inning after right fielder Lee Jong-beom hit a double to left/center with 2 outs and the bases loaded.
SK catcher Jeong Sang-ho hit a solo home run in the 7th to tie the game at 3. This was actually a fairly impressive homer because the catcher took a foul tip off of his thigh and looked like he would have to exit the game. Jeong chose to gut his way through the pain and slugged SK to a 3-3 tie.
In the bottom of the 8th with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, Lee Jong-beom stepped to the plate with a chance to give his team the lead. Lee drilled a 2-1 fastball into right field for a base hit. The go-ahead run scored from 3rd and Lee started fist pumping. KIA tacked on another run on a single from catcher Kim Sang-hoon to make the score 5-3. KIA closer Yoo Dong-hoon has been Mr. Automatic since he earned the closer's role in May. He threw a perfect 9th inning to end the game and give KIA a 1-0 series lead.
The series moves to Incheon tomorrow at 2 PM Korean time. The KBO has chosen to go with a really goofy schedule. It goes 1 game in Gwangju, 1 game in Incheon, then 2 in Seoul, 1 more in Gwangju, 1 more in Incheon and if needed, game 7 will be played in Seoul. I understand that Gwangju has a crappy stadium, but is this really necessary? Anyone else think the KBO would use this as leverage in getting local support for new facilities?
It's a battle of injured lefties as KIA is sending phenom Yoon Seok-min to the mound and SK is countering with Song Eun-beom. Yoon started the season as KIA's closer, but a need for a starter pushed him into the rotation. Yoon finished the year 9-4 with 7 saves. He recorded a 3.46 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He struck out 117 and walked 52 in 119 2/3 innings of work. Yoon hasn't pitched since September 9th. He was shut down with a "sore shoulder." Song Eun-beom finished the year 12-3 in 31 appearances. He was shut down on September 22nd with, oddly enough, a "sore shoulder." Song recorded a 3.13 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He struck out 103 and walked 54 in 149 1/3 innings of work. Song started the season 10-0, but has struggled to a 2-3 record over his last 15 appearances.
W - Aquilino Lopez, L - Goh Hyo-joon, S - Yoo Dong-hoon
KIA has a 1-0 series lead
This was possibly the most enjoyable game that the 2009 KBO post season has offered so far. The game had a flow to it. The early innings flew by and the late innings were a chess match. A one-sided chess match, but a chess match nonetheless.
KIA starter Aquilino Lopez did what he has done all season. He did a good job of getting out of jams, he kept his team in the game and he ate up a lot of innings. KIA has been able to keep the pressure off of their bullpen with starters like Lopez and Guttormson working late into games. Lopez tossed 8 innings(122 pitches, 75 strikes) of 3-run baseball. He gave up only 6 hits, 2 walks and 1 hit batsman while striking out 7.
SK starter Ken Kadokura was solid. He seemed to find that extra playoff gear that veteran's seem to summon in October. It's how a mediocre starter can gut his way through a tough October start. Kadokura threw 5 innings(73 pitches, 44 strikes) of 1-run ball. If he hadn't pitched a few days ago, he probably would have gone a bit longer. Kadokura allowed only 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 7.
SK drew first blood in the 3rd inning. SK shortstop Na Ju-hwan scored on a seeing-eye single off the bat of right fielder Park Jae-hong. SK added a 2nd run in the 4th inning thanks to back-to-back doubles from 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo and 1st baseman Park Jeong-kwon. Park just missed a homerun. His double bounced in front of the center field wall and Jeong was able to score easily.
KIA got on the board in the bottom of the 4th. With runners on the corners and 1 out, KIA 3rd baseman/MVP candidate Kim Sang-hyeon hit a TOWERING flyball to right to get KIA their first run of the game. The Tigers would take a 3-2 lead in the 6th inning after right fielder Lee Jong-beom hit a double to left/center with 2 outs and the bases loaded.
SK catcher Jeong Sang-ho hit a solo home run in the 7th to tie the game at 3. This was actually a fairly impressive homer because the catcher took a foul tip off of his thigh and looked like he would have to exit the game. Jeong chose to gut his way through the pain and slugged SK to a 3-3 tie.
In the bottom of the 8th with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, Lee Jong-beom stepped to the plate with a chance to give his team the lead. Lee drilled a 2-1 fastball into right field for a base hit. The go-ahead run scored from 3rd and Lee started fist pumping. KIA tacked on another run on a single from catcher Kim Sang-hoon to make the score 5-3. KIA closer Yoo Dong-hoon has been Mr. Automatic since he earned the closer's role in May. He threw a perfect 9th inning to end the game and give KIA a 1-0 series lead.
The series moves to Incheon tomorrow at 2 PM Korean time. The KBO has chosen to go with a really goofy schedule. It goes 1 game in Gwangju, 1 game in Incheon, then 2 in Seoul, 1 more in Gwangju, 1 more in Incheon and if needed, game 7 will be played in Seoul. I understand that Gwangju has a crappy stadium, but is this really necessary? Anyone else think the KBO would use this as leverage in getting local support for new facilities?
It's a battle of injured lefties as KIA is sending phenom Yoon Seok-min to the mound and SK is countering with Song Eun-beom. Yoon started the season as KIA's closer, but a need for a starter pushed him into the rotation. Yoon finished the year 9-4 with 7 saves. He recorded a 3.46 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He struck out 117 and walked 52 in 119 2/3 innings of work. Yoon hasn't pitched since September 9th. He was shut down with a "sore shoulder." Song Eun-beom finished the year 12-3 in 31 appearances. He was shut down on September 22nd with, oddly enough, a "sore shoulder." Song recorded a 3.13 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. He struck out 103 and walked 54 in 149 1/3 innings of work. Song started the season 10-0, but has struggled to a 2-3 record over his last 15 appearances.
1 comment:
Good win this afternoon.. Game 2 was in Gwangju, and games 3 and 4 will be in Incheon.. the rest of the games after that will be played in Jamshil.. totally stupid if you ask me.. I'm not sure if this happens regularly (I'm a KBO rookie).. I don't understand why I can't get these games on any radio station in Seoul on my mp3 player radio.. I can't believe there is no sports radio station in a city the size of Seoul!
AND we have to wait til Wednesday for game 3.. crappy things abound..
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