Thursday, May 20, 2010

5/19 Roundup and News

Hanhwa 7, Doosan 4 (11)
W - Yang Hoon (1-0), L - Kim Seung-hui (0-1)
Hanhwa HR - Kim Tae-wan (7) Doosan HR - None

This game was tough to watch. The first nine innings took almost four hours and they only scored eight runs between the two teams. The two teams combined to use 15 pitchers. Both teams loaded the bases in the 10th inning and both teams were unable to score. Doosan used their DH in the field, so they had to send the pitcher to bat in the late innings...twice including with the bases loaded and two outs in the 8th inning. This...was a terribly managed game that neither team deserved to win. With the game still tied at four in the top of the 11th inning, Hanhwa mounted a rally. With one out, Hanhwa DH Kim Tae-wan singled to center. Kim was pulled for a pinch runner. The next batter Choi Jin-haeng singled to left to advance the lead runner to third. Hanhwa third baseman Kim Kwang-min poked a single into right to score the first run of the inning and break the 4-4 tie. Hanhwa first baseman Choi Hee-sang hit a 2-run double to give Hanhwa a 7-4 advantage. Hanhwa closer Yang Hoon recorded the final five outs for the W. This game was so poorly managed that I really don't want to write any more about it. Moving on...

Nexen 16, SK 1
W - Goh Won-joon (2-1), L - Song Eun-beom (4-3)
Nexen HR - Kang Jeong-ho (6), Yoo Han-joon 2(6), Kang Byeong-sik (1), Doug Clark (4) SK HR - None

The final makes it look like SK starter Song Eun-beom got lit. Not true. Nexen feasted on some of the warm bodies in the very back end of the SK bullpen. Song wasn't great, but he was competent. Song tossed 6 1/3 innings(94 pitches, 62 strikes) and gave up four runs. Song gave up eight hits and one walk, but Song allowed a pair of homers that accounted for most of the damage. Song struck out six K's. The real story here was Nexen starter Goh Won-joon. Goh took a no-hitter into the 8th before SK pinch hitter Lee Ho-joon hit a double off him. Goh ended the night with 7 1/3 innings(116 pitches, 67 strikes) of 1-run, one hit baseball. He allowed four walks and struck out five. Nexen right fielder Yoo Han-joon had a once in a career night. Yoo blasted two homers while going 5-6 with eight RBIs and two runs scored.

LG 10, Samsung 4
W - Kim Kwang-sam (3-1), L - Francisco Cruceta (3-6)
LG HR - Lee Byeong-gyu (6) Samsung HR - None

Whatever Francisco Cruceta had last night, it wasn't his good stuff. Cruceta was lacked command and left a lot of pitches out over the plate. LG seemed to punish every mistake he made. Cruceta was chased from the game before the third inning ended and the Twins at least one run in each of the first six innings. They kept the pressure on the Lions until the game was well out of hand. LG starter Kim Kwang-sam looked competent in comparison. Kim tossed 5 1/3 innings(104 pitches, 65 strikes) of 3-run baseball. Kim allowed six hits, two walks and 1 hit batsman while striking out four. LG center fielder and lead off man Lee Dae-hyeong set the tone for the LG offense. Lee went 5-6 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. It felt like he was on base all night. LG infielder Kim Tae-wan went 2-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Lotte 3, KIA 2
W - Song Seung-joon (4-3), L - Yoo Dong-hoon (3-1), S - Lim Kyeong-wan (2)
Lotte HR - Kang Min-ho (8) KIA HR - Choi Hee-seop (9), Cha Il-mok (1)

It looked like KIA was going to cruise to a shutout victory last night, but a late inning Lotte rally turned that cruise into a nightmare trip for the KIA Tigers. KIA held a 2-0 lead in the 8th inning, a solo homer from Lotte catcher Kang Min-ho cut the KIA lead in half. In the top of the 9th, Lotte mounted a rally. Outfielder Jeon Joon-woo lead off the inning with a double. Jeon would score on left fielder Son Ah-seob's single to left. Son advanced to second when KIA left fielder Kim Won-seob let the ball bounce away from him. Lotte DH Hong Seong-heun laid down a sac bunt to advance Son to third with only one out. KIA intentionally walked Lee Dae-ho and unintentionally walked Karim Garcia to bring Kang Min-ho to the plate. Kang lined out to left for the second out and none of the runners were able to advance. The next batter, 2nd baseman Cho Seong-hwan leaned into a Yoo Dong-hoon pitch and the go-ahead run was able to score on the HBP. Lotte reliever Lim Kyeong-wan tossed a 1-2-3 9th for the save. Lotte starter Song Seung-joon has really stepped up and logged some big innings for the Giants this month. Song tossed 8 innings(106 pitches, 70 strikes) of 2-run baseball. Song gave up four hits and 1 walk while striking out seven. KIA starter Yoon Seok-min took the tough luck ND thanks to the KIA bullpen. Yoon threw 8 innings(100 pitches, 66 strikes) of 1-run baseball. Yoon gave up three hits and one walk while striking out five.

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