Monday, June 14, 2010

6/11 - 6/13 Weekend Roundup: Samsung vs. Nexen

6/11 - Nexen 9, Samsung 7
6/12 - Samsung 4, Nexen 1
6/13 - Nexen 3, Samsung 1

The rumors of Doug Clark's demise have been greatly exaggerated. The foreign slugger started the season in a slow, boring fashion, but he's found his stroke and is punishing KBO pitchers. Clark hit a grandslam in the first inning of Friday's contest to give Nexen an early lead. Clark would finish 2-4 with a walk, a double, five RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. After picking up a few insurance runs, Nexen first baseman Lee Sung-yong hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to turn the game into an 8-1 laffer. Samsung chipped away at the Nexen bullpen, but the game was never what I'd call close. Samsung lead off hitter/centerfielder Lee Yeong-wook enjoyed a solid day at the plate. Lee finished 3-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.

On Saturday, Samsung got a few quality innings from starter Francisco Cruceta, a few more quality innings from the Samsung bullpen and juuuuuust enough offense to get the job done. Cruceta tossed five innings(90 pitches, 56 strikes) of one-run baseball. Cruceta allowed six hits and struck out four. Three Samsung relievers combined to throw four shutout innings. They allowed exactly one hit and one walk. Samsung outfielder Oh Jeong-bok lead helped Samsung to an early lead by hitting a two-run double in the second inning. Oh finished 1-2 with a walk, two RBIs and one run scored. Nexen starter Geum Min-cheol was unbelievably wild. Actually, he if you've seen Geum pitch this year, he's believably wild. Geum gave up eight hits, five walks and a hit batsman during his four innings of work. Good-bye WHIP.

Nexen took the series on Sunday. The Heroes were backed by a quality start from Australian national Adrian Burnside and a couple of RBIs from shortstop Kang Jeong-ho. Burnside threw seven innings(119 pitches, 64 strikes) of one-run baseball. Burnside allowed six hits and six walks while striking out two. Samsung starter Brandon Knight didn't deserve to get the L, but he didn't get a lot of support from the Samsung offense. Knight tossed seven innings(101 pitches, 67 strikes) of three-run ball. Knight allowed only six hits and one walk while striking out eight. After Samsung pushed across a run in the first inning, Nexen outfielder Doug Clark added another homer with a solo shot in the second inning. Shortstop Kang Jeong-ho hit a two-run double in the fourth inning that gave Nexen a 3-1 lead. Kang would finish 2-4 with two doubles. Nexen closer Son Seung-rak tossed a scoreless ninth for the save.

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