KBO Playoffs Round 2, Game 5

SK 14, Doosan 3
W - Lee Seung-ho, L - Juan Cedeno
SK wins the series 3-2

SK just owns Doosan come playoff time. This is the 3rd straight year the Wyverns have bounced the Bears out of the playoffs and this one had to be the most difficult to take. Doosan won the first two games in Incheon. All they had to do was win one of the next two at home and they would exorcise all the ghosts of KBO Playoffs past. They dropped both games in Seoul, had to wait an extra day to play the rubber match in Incheon and then got completely annihilated.



SK hit 5 homers while routing the Bears. Right fielder Park Jae-hong lead of the game with a solo blast. 3rd baseman Choi Jeong added a 2-run bomb in the first inning that made the score 3-0. 1st baseman Park Jeong-kwon added a solo homer that capped a 4-run rally in the 3rd inning. Jeong-kwon went 3-5 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. The two Parks and Choi had nice games, but SK left fielder Park Jae-sang led the charge with a 2-homerun game. Jae-sang finished 2-5 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Doosan starter Juan Cedeno wasn't very good, but I don't think he deserved the loss. He only faced 4 batters and recorded 1 out before exiting the game. I wonder if he even changed out of his uniform before he got on the plane out of Korea. I pictured him walking off the mound and going right into a taxi to the airport. After Juan, it was all-hands-on-deck for the Doosan pitching staff and almost everyone gave up runs.

For some reason, SK chose to burn out its bullpen with a healthy lead. I understand that they wanted to play match ups and keep Doosan from getting back into the game, but come on. They've got another series starting tomorrow. There's no reason to use 6 pitchers in a 14-3 ballgame. SK "starter" Chae Byeong-yong allowed exactly 2 base runners during his 2 2/3 scoreless innings(41 pitches, 25 strikes) of work. He gave up 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 3.


It wasn't all bad for Doosan. Hey, left fielder/superstar Kim Hyeon-su had a big game. 3-4 with a homer, 2 RBIs and 1 run scored in an 11-run loss. He was better during the '09 playoffs than he was last year. He wasn't bouncing into double plays every other at bat this year. There has to be a batter word for "unclutch." "Arodic" doesn't quite cut it any more.



This game did get a little chippy towards the end. In the 7th inning, SK shortstop Na Ju-hwan was drilled by a pitch from Ji Seung-min. Na chose to retaliate by spiking Doosan catcher Yong Deok-han. He nailed him flush on the calf with his foot during a play at the plate. He was out by a few feet, but made no effort NOT to spike Yong. The intent was clear. Yong was able to make it off the field, but lobbed a ball in frustration. Na just got up without saying a word and walked back into the dugout. It was one of the most cold-blooded scenes I have ever seen in the KBO. Some trash was lobbed onto the field, but the spiking ended whatever in-game shenanigans were going on.



The Korean Series starts on 10/16 at 6 PM Gwangju time. SK will send Ken Kadokura on 3 days rest against KIA's Aquilino Lopez. Lopez finished the regular season 14-5 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Lopez lead the league in innings pitched with 190. He struck out 129 and walked 51.