5/17 Roundup and News

Busan Haps has an early season report card on the Lotte Giants that is well worth a read.

KIA 11, LG 0
W - Yoon Seok-min (4-1), L - Radhames Liz (2-5)
KIA HR - Shin Jong-gil (1) LG HR - None

KIA starter Yoon Seok-min was essentially unbeatable last night. The only reason he didn't stay longer than six innings(90 pitches, 59 strikes) was because there wasn't any need to put the extra pitches on his arm. This game was out of hand early. Yoon gave up only two hits and struck out ten.

The KIA offense produced thirteen hits and drew nine walks while pummelling anyone who was on the mound.

Second baseman Ahn Chi-hong drove in three runs while going 3-5. Left fielder Kim Sang-hyeon went 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs. Right fielder Kim Won-seop and Shin Jong-gil both chipped in by driving in two runs apiece.

Samsung 11, Nexen 5
W - Ahn Ji-man (3-3), L - Geum Min-cheol (2-4)
Samsung HR - None Nexen HR - Song Ji-man (2)

This was a weird game for Nexen starter Geum Min-cheol. Geum stuck around for only 2 2/3 innings(56 pitches, 31 strikes). He gave up six runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batsman, but only one of the runs were earned. Also, when Geum was suprisingly demonstrative when he was yanked. He appeared to be visibly annoyed with his coach. It's highly unusual for a Korean pitcher to disrespect his pitching coach. The non-Korean starters tend to act like western players, but the Korean guys usually don't act out, even a little.

Things unraveled quickly for Geum in the third inning. After loading the bases with two outs, Geum drilled Samsung third baseman Park Seok-min to plate the first run. Samsung DH Choi Hyeong-woo hit a sharp grounder to short that literally went right between Nexen shortstop Kang Jeong-ho's legs and into left. Two runs scored on the play. First baseman Ryan Garko put a base hit into center to push the lead to 4-0. Geum walked Samsung catcher Jin Kab-yong to reload the bases and got himself removed from the game.

Reliever Bae Him-chan came in and gave up another base hit to right fielder Park Han-yi to plate two more runs. The inning would have continued but Jin was caught trying to advance to third.

Nexen tried to keep things close when DH Song Ji-man hit a three-run bomb in the sixth inning, but Samsung picked up a lot of late insurance to put the game out of reach.

Lotte 8, SK 2
W - Lee Jae-gon (1-3), L - Lee Yeong-wook (0-1)
Lotte HR - Park Jong-yoon (1), Hong Seong-heun (1) SK HR - None

This game got out of hand early. With one-run already in, Lotte first baseman Park Jong-yoon hit a grand slam homer to give Lotte a 5-0 lead in the second inning.

Lotte left fielder Hong Seong-heun ended his season long homer drought with a two-run blast in the third inning. Hong finished 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Lotte starter Lee Jae-gon did something he hadn't done all year. He threw a quality start. Lee lowered his ERA to 7.65 and his WHIP to an even 2.00. Lee threw seven innings(84 pitches, 50 strikes) of two-run baseball. Lee gave up seven hits, one walk and one hit batsman, but he didn't manage any strikeouts. Lee recorded 11 outs via the ground ball.

Doosan 8, Hanhwa 1
W - Lee Yong-chan (1-1), L - Yang Hoon (0-3)
Doosan HR - Lee Seong-yeol (1) Hanhwa HR - None

Doosan beat up on Hanhwa starter Yang Hoon while the Doosan pitching staff put together a solid game.

Yang gave up five runs(four earned) on seven hits and one walk during his four innings(94 pitches, 57 strikes).

Doosan catcher Yang Eui-ji went 2-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs. Center fielder Lee Jong-wook went 2-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

Doosan starter Lee Yong-chan tossed five innings(60 pitches, 36 strikes) of one-hit baseball. Lee managed to strike out two and record eight outs via the groundball.

Hanhwa was only able to muster a single run off of the Doosan bullpen when Goh Chang-seong gave up a couple hits and walk in the eighth inning.