3/28 Roundup

SK 6, Hanhwa 3
W - Jeong Woo-ram (1-0), L - Guh Dae-seong, S - Lee Seung-ho (2)
SK HR - Park Jae-sang(1) Hanhwa HR - None

With this W, SK manager Kim Seong-geun won his 1100 career game.

Hanhwa actually held a 2-run lead in the first inning after an RBI ground out by DH Lee Do-hyeong and an RBI single from 2nd baseman Jeong Won-seok. The Wyverns got one run back in the bottom of the first on a solo homer by right fielder Park Jae-sang. SK tied the game in the third inning on an RBI groundout from DH Kim Jae-hwan. The two teams traded zeroes until the 6th inning when SK started a rally. With runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, SK shortstop Na Ju-hwan laid down a sac bunt. It was fielded cleanly by Hanhwa reliever Choi Yeong-pil, but the throw to third bounced away from third baseman Song Kwan-min and the lead runner was able to score. The next batter, catcher Park Kyeong-won, laced a 2-run single in to left to give SK a 5-2 advantage. Hanhwa managed to plate another run in the 7th on a bases loaded walk to 3rd baseman Song Kwan-min. SK also loaded the bases in the 8th and also drew a walk to plate another run. SK closer Lee Seung-ho tossed two scoreless innings to earn his second save in as many days.

Samsung 9, LG 4
W - Brandon Knight (1-0), L - Shim Su-chang (0-1)
Samsung HR - Jin Kab-yong (2) LG - None

Brandon Knight tossed 5 2/3 innings(104 pitches, 66 pitches) of 3-run ball to earn his first W of the young season. Knight allowed 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. All three LG runs came during a first inning rally. After a throwing error allowed center fielder Lee Dae-hyeong to advance to second on a ground ball, DH Lee Taek-geun singled to center to score Lee Dae-hyeong. Lee Taek-geun stole 2nd and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0. Yes, Lee scored from 2nd. Yes, the pitch was that wild. 1st baseman Lee Jin-yeong hit and RBI single to center to give LG a 3-0 lead. After a scoreless 1st inning, the Lions would score in the each of the next four innings and and take a 6-run lead. In the 3rd inning, right fielder Choi Hyeong-woo hit a single through the left side with the bases loaded to tie the game at 3. DH Yang Joon-hyeok untied the game with an RBI ground out. Catcher Jin Kab-yong singled to right to cap the rally. Samsung added another run in the 4th on an RBI single from left fielder Kang Bong-gyu. The Lions would add three more in the 5th thanks to a solo homer from Jin Kab-yong, an RBI single from center fielder Lee Yeong-wook and a sac fly from Choi Hyeong-woo.

Nexen 11, Lotte 3
W - Kang Yoon-guh (1-0), L - Jang Won-joon (0-1)
Nexen HR - Yoo Han-joon (1), Kim Il-kyeong (2), Kang Gui-tae(2) Lotte - None

I guess we can start discussing Lotte replacing Jerry Royster. Going o-2 against a team that traded or released most of its veterans was not what Lotte fans had in mind for this weekend. Heroes 2nd year man Kang Yoon-guh pitched well enough to win, but didn't instill a lot of confidence. Kang tossed 5 innings(86 pitches, 46 strikes) of 2-run ball. He gave up 2 hits and 4 walks while striking out 3. Lotte starter Jeong Won-joon wasn't that bad, but the Lotte bullpen sure was. With Nexen holding a 4-2 lead, the Lotte bullpen surrendered 7 runs and put the game out of reach. Heroes catcher Kang Gui-tae had a great weekend. He blasted his second homer in as many days while going 3-4 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Nexen 2nd baseman Kim Il-kyeong went 2-4 with 2 homers, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Doosan 10, KIA 9
W - Park Jeong-bae (1-0), L - Park Kyeong-tae (0-1), S - Lee Yong-chan (1)
Doosan HR - None KIA HR - Choi Hee-seop (1), Kim Sang-hyeon (1)

This is not the debut Doosan wanted from former Heroes pitcher, Lee Hyeon-seung. Lee was battered for 6 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk during his 1 1/3 innings(61 pitches, 36 strikes) of work. Halfway through the 2nd inning, Doosan was facing a 6-0 deficit. For Lee's sake KIA starter Jeon Tae-hyeon was almost as bad. Jeon lasted 2 1/3 innings(60 pitches, 34 strikes), but allowed 6 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. With KIA up 9-6 in the 5th inning, Doosan mounted a rally that would end up deciding the game. Center fielder Lee Jong-wook delivered an RBI single and put runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Infielder Oh Jae-won laid down a bunt to the right side and managed to beat the throw. The run scored from third and all runners were safe. DH Lee Seong-yeol laid down another sac bunt to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Then the hitting machine, Kim Hyeon-su, stepped up to the plate. He ripped a line drive single into center to drive in both runners and give Doosan a 10-9 lead. The two bullpens would trade zeroes for the next 4 innings. 19 runs scored and all of them before the 6th inning. 7 different KIA Tigers scored runs in this game. Kim Hyeon-su finished the day 2-3 with a double, 2 walks, 3 RBIs and 1 run scored. Doosan left fielder Yoo Jae-woong went 1-4 with a double, a walk, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Wild afternoon in Seoul.