5/11 News and Roundup

Samsung 11, Doosan 2
W - Jang Won-sam (3-1), L - Kim Sun-woo (4-3)
Samsung HR - Cho Dong-chan (1) Doosan HR - Kim Dong-ju (6)

After a slightly questionable safe call at home in the 2nd inning, things went downhill fast for Kim Sun-woo and the Doosan Bears. The Lions launched an assembly line rally and with Jang Won-sam's help on the mound they never looked back. Samsung catcher Jin Kab-yong had a soid night at the plate, but a rough time behind it. Jin finished 2-3 with a walk, a double, 1 RBI and 3 runs scored, but he left the game in the 7th inning after taking a foul ball off his jaw. Samsung backup infielder Cho Dong-chan had a solid evening at the plate. Cho finished 2-4 with a triple, a homer, 4 RBIs and one run scored. Samsung starter Jang Won-sam threw 5 1/3 innings(89 pitches, 59 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He allowed 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.

Hanhwa 3, LG 1
W -Ryu Hyeon-jin (5-2), L - Edgar Gonzalez (0-6)
Hanhwa HR - None LG HR - Lee Byeong-gyu (4)

Hanhwa unleashed the K-Monster on LG and few were left standing in his wake. Ryu Hyeon-jin was excellent. He limited the Twins to only 1 run on 5 hits and 1 walk while tossing a complete game(124 pitches, 88 strikes). Ryu set a franchise record with 17 strikeouts. His stuff was absolutely filthy. His fastball was popping and his slider really nasty. LG never stood a chance. LG DH Cho In-seong earned himself a large golden sombrero. Cho went 0-4 with 4 K's. Lee Byeong-gyu did manage a solo homer in the 6th. Not that one. The other one. Edgar Gonzalez just can't catch a break. Instead of getting shelled like usual, Easy Eddie tried a different approach of reasonably competent pitching. Gonzo threw 6 innings(87 pitches, 54 strikes) of 2-run baseball. He allowed 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1. Hanhwa left fielder Choi Jin-haeng did most of the damage at the plate. Choi went 3-4 with a pair of RBI and a stolen base.

KIA 5, Nexen 2
W - Yoon Seok-min (3-1), L - Adrian Burnside (2-5)
KIA HR - Choi Hee-seop (8) Nexen HR - Kang Jeong-ho (4)

Yoon must've heard about Ryu's stuff in warm ups because he tried to out duel the Hanhwa ace. KIA has chosen to use Yoon as a throwback pitcher. In the early days of the KBO, it wasn't unheard of to use an ace starter as an ace reliever as an ace reliever. Yoon recorded a save over the weekend and yesterday he threw a complete game. Yoon needed 111 pitches(75 strikes) to toss a complete game. He allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Not exactly Ryu-like numbers, but a quality start. Adrian Burnside's tough luck continued. Adrian made exactly one mistake in this game. He gave up a home run to Choi Hee-seop with two runners on base that turned a 0-0 tie into a 3-0 deficit. Burnside was yanked after giving up the homer. His day ended with 5 1/3 innings(94 pitches, 60) strikes completed. He allowed 7 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit batsman and 1 on-mound temper tantrum while striking out 3.

SK 21, Lotte 10
W - Jeong Woo-ram (3-1), L - Kim Dae-woo (0-1)
SK HR - Park Kyeon-wan (3), Na Joo-hwan (3), Park Jeong-kwon (8) Lotte HR - Park Jong-yoon (4)

This was a wild game that featured a 14-run 4th inning that took almost an hour to complete. SK was losing 4-3 when they rallied for 8 runs in the top of the 4th. SK shortstop Na Joo-hwan hit a solo homer to start the inning and tie the game at 4. Lotte recorded two outs before giving up another run. After an RBI infield single from SK 2nd baseman Jeong Geun-woo gave SK a 5-4 lead, the Wyverns proceeded to batter Lotte pitching for 5 more runs in the inning. Na Joo-hwan delivered a 3-RBI triple and scored the final run of the rally to give SK an 11-4 lead. 8 consecutive batters reached base with 2 outs. Lotte was not to be outdone. They rallied for 6 runs in the bottom of the 4th to make the score 11-10. The inning included a grand slam from 1st baseman Park Jong-yoon off of reliever Jeong Woo-ram. SK ace Kim Kwang-hyeon must have thought he was pitching against the NPB's Lotte Marines instead of the KBO's Lotte Giants. The only time I've seen him get shelled this bad was against Japan in the WBC. Kim stuck around for 3 2/3 innings, but gave up 8 runs(all earned) on 11 hits and 2 walks. He did manage to strikeout 4 batters before departing. After the ridiculous 4th inning, SK continued to pound the tar out whichever sacrificial lamb Jerry Royster ordered to take the mound. Na Joo-hwan finished the day a single away from a cycle. Na was 3-5 with a walk, a double, a triple, a homer, 6 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Every SK starter either scored or drove in at least two runs. Lotte's Mr. Everything Kim Joo-chan went 0-5. I sure feel bad for the guy who had Kim in his fantasy league last night.