8/21 Roundup and News

LG 4, Nexen 3
W - Bong Jung-geun (10-8), L - Goh Won-joon (5-7), S - Kim Kwang-su (1)
LG HR - Cho In-seong 2(25) Nexen HR - None

LG ace Bong Jung-geun delivered a quality effort while Cho In-seong provided the offense for the Zombies. Bong threw seven innings(107 pitches, 65 strikes) of two-run baseball. Bong gave up five hits and two walks while striking out four. LG catcher Cho In-seong essentially was the LG offense. Cho finished 4-4 with two homers, three RBIs and two runs scored. For some reason, LG closer Shinya Okamoto was brought in during the eighth inning and wasn't allowed to stay on for the save.

SK 11, Hanhwa 5
W - Goh Hyo-joon (8-5), L - Ahn Seung-min (2-3)
SK HR - Park Kyeong-wan (14) Hanhwa HR - None

SK chased Hanhwa starter Ahn Seung-min from the game in the second inning after battering him for four runs, but that really wasn't the story here. The story was the seven-run rally in the sixth inning that put the game out of reach. Every Wyvern starter either scored or drove in a run during this game. Catcher Park Kyeong-wan lead the charge by finishing 2-3 with a walk, a homer, three RBIs and a run scored. Center fielder Kim Kang-min enjoyed a 3-5, two RBI, two run evening.

Samsung 6, KIA 4
W - Lee Woo-seon (1-3), L - Ahn Yeong-myeong (5-6)
Samsung HR - Choi Hyeong-woo (21) KIA HR - Ahn Chi-hong (8), Na Ji-wan (12)

Samsung jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, only to watch KIA tie the game in the sixth inning on a pair of two-run homers from second baseman Ahn Chi-hong and outfielder Na Ji-wan. The score remained knotted at four until the eighth inning. Samsung left fielder Choi Hyeong-woo untied the game with a solo homer to right. Choi finished the day 3-3 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. Samsung added an insurance run when with runners on first and third with two outs, KIA pitcher Yoon Seok-min uncorked a wild pitch. Samsung reliever Lee Seon-woo faced eight batters and recorded eight outs. Lee struck out half the men he faced while earning the W.

Lotte 14, Doosan 4
W - Lee Jae-gon (5-3), L - Les Walrond (7-5)
Lotte HR - Jeon Joon-woo (13), Son Ah-seop (10) Doosan HR - Lee Jong-wook (5)

Lotte is currently enjoying a five-game winning streak at the perfect time. The Giants have solidified their hold on the fourth playoff spot and appear to be playing better than the current #3 team, Doosan. Lee Dae-ho gets all the headlines and he should. He has forty homers. But starter Lee Jae-gon has really stepped up and kept this rotation together. Lee threw 7 2/3 innings(112 pitches, 77 strikes) of three-run baseball. Lee gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out three. He may not always be pretty, but he eats up innings, has shown the ability to pitch with a lead and generally avoids the big mistakes. Lotte first baseman Park Jong-yoon entered the game as a pinch hitter for Karim Garcia and enjoyed a career day. Park finished 3-3 with a double, five RBIs and a run scored. Garcia left the game due to a shoulder injury and it sounds like he's day-to-day. Center fielder Jeon Joon-woo went 4-5 with a homer, four RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. DH Lee Dae-ho went homerless, but was able to go 3-3 with two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored. I really can't imagine a scenario where Lee doesn't win the MVP at this point. He's leading the league in batting(.365), on base(.438) and slugging(.679).