7/17 Roundup and News

Doosan/Lotte was washed out.

Nexen 5, Hanhwa 3
W - Ma Jeong-gil (3-0), L - Park Jeong-jin (2-4), S - Son Seung-rak (15)
Nexen HR - None Hanhwa HR - None

I'm sure Hanhwa starter Yoo Won-seong thought about murdering everyone in the bullpen on Saturday night. Yoo threw brilliantly for 7 1/3 innings(100 pitches, 58 strikes), but had to watch the lead evaporate in the late innings. Yoo allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four. In the top of the ninth, Hanhwa held a 3-1 lead. It didn't last. Most of the damage came on a three RBI double from Nexen outfielder Yoo Han-joon. Yoo finished 2-2 with two doubles and four RBIs. Yoo entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and drove in a run with an RBI double. He struck again in the ninth. Nexen closer Son Seung-rak tossed a scoreless ninth for the save.

Samsung 3, LG 2 (12)
W - Francisco Cruceta (6-9), L - Jeong Jae-bok (1-1)
Samsung HR - None LG HR - Oh Ji-hwan (9), Park Yong-taek (4)

This game was a real pitchers' duel between LG ace Bong Jung-geun and Samsung starter Jang Won-sam. Bong stuck around for 6 1/3 innings(109 pitches, 69 strikes) and gave up two runs before getting the hook. Bong allowed six hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while striking out four. Jang tossed seven innings(84 pitches, 69 strikes) of one-run, two-hit baseball. Jang struck out six. The only run allowed by Jang came on a solo homer from LG shortstop Oh Ji-hwan. LG was facing a 2-1 deficit in the ninth inning when pinch hitter Park Yong-taek tied the game with a solo homer. We went on to extra innings. Samsung loaded the bases in the eleventh, but they were unable to score. Samsung loaded them again in the twelfth. With one out, right fielder Park Han-yi hit a towering flyball to left that LG left fielder Park Yong-taek simply gave up on. It didn't really matter, the run from third would have scored easlily, no matter what. Park Han-yi earned himself a beating and shower from his teammates.

SK 9, KIA 3
W - Ken Kadokura (10-4), L - Roman Colon (5-4)
SK HR - None KIA HR - Choi Hee-seop (15)

KIA starter Roman Colon wasn't great, but it was the KIA defense and bullpen that lost this one. Three KIA errors helped the SK offense and the KIA bullpen was battered for seven runs(only five earned). SK first baseman Park Jeong-kwon, third baseman Choi Jeong and center fielder Kim Kang-min all drove in two runs on Saturday. SK starter Ken Kadokua won his second game in the month of July. Kadokura tossed five innings(90 pitches, 52 strikes) of two-run baseball. He gave up five hits and two walks while striking out four.