4/10 Roundup and News

KIA 8, Doosan 0
W - Travis Blackley (1-0), L - Kim Sun-woo (0-1)
KIA HR - None Doosan HR - None

KIA knows how to find non-Korean pitchers. Whoever is doing their scouting deserves a raise. KIA's Travis Blackley threw a complete game shutout(117 pitches, 75 strikes) in only his second regular season appearance in the KBO. The Australian national gave up only five hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Doosan didn't accomplish much at the plate or on the mound. Starter Kim Sun-woo was rocked for six runs in his six innings of work. Doosan DH Lee Seong-yeol "lead" the Doosan offense by going 2-3.

KIA DH Lee Beom-ho went 3-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Center fielder Lee Yong-gyu went 3-3 with a walk, two runs scored and stolen base.

Lotte 5, Nexen 1
W - Jang Won-joon (2-0), L - Kim Yeong-min (0-1)
Lotte HR - Kang Min-ho (1), Nexen HR - Corey Aldridge (2)

The Lotte offense roughed up Nexen starter Kim Yeong-min early and often on Sunday. Lotte scored all five runs in the first two innings. First baseman Lee Dae-ho went 2-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and one run scored. Catcher Kang Min-ho hit a two-run homer that was part of a four-run first inning.

Lotte started Jang Won-joon threw six innings(83 pitches, 52 strikes) of one-run baseball. Jang gave up only four hits and two walks while striking out six.

Corey Aldridge was the lone bright spot for the Heroes. Corey's second homer of the weekend was Nexen's only offense.

Samsung 9, SK 4
W - Bae Yeong-su (1-0), L - Kim Kwang-hyeon (0-1)
Samsung HR - Lee Yeong-wook (1) SK HR - None

SK ace Kim Kwang-hyeon looked really mediocre on Sunday, but he was an ace compared to what followed him from the SK bullpen. Kim was chased from the game after failing to record an out in the fourth inning. Kim threw three+ innings(81 pitches, 43 strikes) and was charged with three runs. Kim allowed five hits and five walks while striking out five.

After Kim made his early exit, the Samsung offense tattooed the SK bullpen for six runs. Samsung outfielder Lee Yeong-wook hit a three-run homerun off of SK reliever...Lee Yeong-wook.

Samsung first baseman Park Seok-min lead the Samsung offense by going 3-5 with three RBIs and one run scored.

I really can't believe the SK offense wasn't more productive against Samsung starter Bae Yeong-su. Bae...wasn't exactly dominant. Bae stuck around for 6 1/3 innings(100 pitches, 58 strikes) and gave up three runs. Bae allowed ten hits, one walk and one hit batsman. He didn't record a single strikeout. I still can't get over the fact that a guy that looks as over the hill as Bae is one year younger than I am.

LG 9, Hanhwa 4
W - Ben Jukich, L - Julio DePaula
LG HR - Park Yong-taek (2) Hanhwa HR - Lee Dae-su (3), Lee Hui-geun (1)

LG starter Ben Jukich really only made two mistakes on Sunday. Sadly, they were both hit out of the park. Jukich threw 5 1/3 innings(89 pitches, 53 strikes) and gave up three runs. Jukich allowed only three hits(one stayed in the park) and three walks while striking out five.

LG DH Park Yong-taek's sudden power spike is a little strange. This is a batter who needed 96 games and 334 at bats in 2008 to hit two homers. He has two in 25 at bats this year. It looks like he's taking his DH duties and move to the middle of the lineup very seriously.

Park went 2-5 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Catcher Cho In-seong, second baseman Park Kyeong-su and right fielder Lee Byeong-gyu chipped in two RBIs apiece for the Twins.