4/5 Roundup and News

We have our first "Plane Ticket of Shame" for the 2011 season. Congratulations, Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez was released by the Doosan Bears due to a "conditioning problem." The search for a new foreign pitcher has already begun.

We also have our first fat idiot running onto the field. I can't believe I missed this. Hat tip to both The Marmot and Korea Beat.

On to the roundup...

SK 6, LG 5
W - Lee Seung-ho (1-0), L - Lee Sang-yeol (0-1), S - Jeong Woo-ram (1)
SK HR - None LG HR - None

SK ace Kim Kwang-hyeon made his first start of 2011 and it was completely forgettable. Kim stuck around for 6 2/3 innings(103 pitches, 60 strikes), but allowed four runs(three earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out four. It wasn't the dominating effort that fans have grown accustomed to seeing from Kim.

LG took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh when they rallied for four runs. Three consecutive batters singled with two outs in the inning. The rally was capped by a two-run, pinch-hit single from warm body Yoon Sang-gyun.

SK struck back with three of their own in the top of the eighth inning. Catcher Jeong Sang-ho scored from third on a wild pitch after hitting a single and advancing on a wild pitch and a sacrifice.

With one out, first baseman Park Jeong-kwon drew a walk. Park advanced to third on a bloop single to center by center fielder Lim Hoon. SK tied the game on another single from outfielder Ahn Chi-yong. After pinch hitter Lee Ho-jun popped out to the third baseman, second baseman Jeong Geun-woo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Left fielder Park Jae-sang singled to right to drive in the go-ahead run.

The SK bullpen threw a scoreless eighth and ninth to nail down the W for the Wyverns.

Nexen 4, Doosan 3
W - Park Joon-su (1-0), L - Lee Yong-chan (0-1), S - Song Shin-yeong (1)
Nexen HR - None Doosan HR - Oh Jae-won (1)

Nexen held a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth when DOosan tied the game on a two-RBI double from catcher Yong Deok-han. The Heroes untied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Third baseman Kim Min-woo walked, stole second and advanced to third when the throw bounced into center field. Kim would score on a sac fly from DH Goh Chong-wook to give Nexen a 4-3 advantage.

Nexen starter Kim Seong-tae was, well, effectively wild. Kim struck out eight during his 5 2/3 innings(104 pitches, 59 strikes) of work, but he walked six and gave up four hits and three runs.

The Nexen bullpen managed to throw up zeroes on the board during the late innings. Reliever Lee Jeong-hoon tossed an inning and a third of scoreless ball and closer Song Shin-yeong threw a perfect ninth for the save.

KIA 9, Hanhwa 1
W - Aquilino Lopez (1-0), L - Julio DePaula (0-1)
KIA HR - Cha Il-mok (1) Hanhwa HR - None

Aquilino Lopez looked like the pitcher that helped KIA to a championship in 2009 last night. Lopez threw eight innings(100 pitches, 62 strikes) of one-run baseball. Lopez allowed only five hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out four.

The KIA offense was a total team effort last night. Eight different players drove in runs and seven different players scored runs. Center fielder/lead off hitter Lee Yong-gyu led the way for the KIA lineup. He went 2-3 with two walks, a steal, an RBI and a run scored. He was on base all night. It's a surprise that he only scored once.

Julio DePaula didn't have a good start, but this game got out of hand thanks to the Hanhwa bullpen. DePaula gave up four runs over four innings of work, but relievers Ma Il-yeong and Choi Jin-ho gave up five in the blink of an eye.

Lotte 10, Samsung 3
W - Jeong Won-joon (1-0), L - Ahn Ji-man (0-1)
Lotte HR - Hwang Jae-gyun (1) Samsung HR - None

I was actually at this game. It was a brutal affair that ground on for almost four hours.

Samsung kept Lotte slugger Lee Dae-ho from doing any real damage. He went 0-4 with a walk and a strikeout, but the bottom half of the Lotte lineup brought the pain. Third baseman Jeon Joon-woo went 2-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Shortstop Hwang Jae-gyun finished 3-3 with a double, a homer, a steal, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Lotte starter Jang Won-joon earned himself a W by tossing five innings(93 pitches, 58 strikes) of two-run baseball. Jang gave up only six hits and one walk while striking out four.