7/19 Roundup and News

Hanhwa 7, KIA 6
W - Kim Kwang-su (2-2), L - Son Yeong-min (5-5)
Hanhwa HR - Choi Jin-haeng (13)
KIA HR - Choi Hee-seop (7)

KIA actually lead 6-2 heading into the bottom of the eight. Hanhwa picked up a run on solo homer from DH Choi Jin-haeng to cut the KIA lead to 6-3.

KIA brought in reliever Shim Dong-seop to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth. Hanhwa promptly loaded the bases with one out. Hanhwa right fielder Kang Dong-woo hit a grounder right back to the pitcher to get a force out at home.

Reliever Son Yeong-min was brought in to record the final out for the Tigers. Pinch hitter Jeon Hyeon-tae put a base hit into center to score a pair and cut the lead to 6-5. First baseman Jang Seong-ho took a pitch in the shoulder to re-load the bases for Choi Jin-haeng. Reliever Yoo Dong-hoon was brought in to face Choi. Choi promptly lined a 1-0 pitch into right/center to complete the comeback and walk off the Tigers.

Travis Blackley should be pissed. The KIA starter threw seven innings(107 pitches, 70 strikes) of two-run ball. Travis gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out four.

KIA first baseman Choi Hee-seop went 3-4 with a walk, a homer, three RBIs and one run scored.

Nexen 2, LG 1 (10)
W - Yoon Ji-wong (1-0), L - Shim Su-chang (0-5)
Nexen HR - None
LG HR - None

LG put runners on the corners with no outs and pushed across a run when third baseman Jeong Seong-hoon grounded out into a double play.

Nexen tied the game in the seventh on a RBI single from first baseman Kang Byeong-sik.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the tenth. LG reliever Shim Su-chang walked the bases loaded. Nexen shortstop Kang Jeong-ho put a base-hit into right/center to walk off the LG Twins.

Kang finished the game 2-4 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI.

Nexen starter Kim Seong-tae surprised everyone, even Nexen fans. All ten of them. Kim tossed seven innings(104 pitches, 68 strikes) of one-run baseball. Kim allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Lotte 5, Doosan 3 (10)
W - Kim Sa-yul (5-2), L - Noh Kyeong-eun
Lotte HR - None
Doosan HR - Goh Yeong-min

Lotte held a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. After Lotte pitcher Chris Bootcheck walked the lead off hitter, second baseman Goh Yeong-min hit a fly ball to left field that landed in the third row for a home run. Bootcheck allowed a few more hits, but managed reliever Kim Sa-yul managed bail the Giants out and to get out of the ninth with the game tied at three.

Lotte answered in the top of the tenth. Lotte put runners on second and third with two outs. Pinch hitter Son Yong-seok singled and advanced to second on the throw, but both runners were able to score to give Lotte a 5-3 advantage.

Reliever Kim Sa-yul stayed in for the bottom of the tenth and recorded a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.

Lotte DH Hong Seong-heun lead the Giants offense and went 3-5 with a double, a run scored and a RBI. Slugger Lee Dae-ho went 2-4 with a RBI.

Both starters deserved better than a no decision on their record. Lotte starter Goh Won-joon tossed 6 2/3 innings(95 pitches, 60 strikes) of one-run baseball. Goh gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Doosan's Dustin Nippert threw seven innings(114 pitches, 74 strikes) of one-run ball. Nippert surrendered eight hits, one walk and a hit batsman while striking out four.

Samsung 3, SK 2
W - Kwon Hyeok (1-1), L - Jeong Dae-hyeon (2-3), S - Oh Seung-hwan (27)
Samsung HR - None
SK HR - None

Samsung was facing a 2-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Samsung put runners on first and second with one out when RBI machine Choi Hyeong-woo poked a single into center to tie the game at two. Samsung took a 3-2 lead when Kang Bong-gyu slapped a base-hit into right.

Samsung closer Oh Seung-hwan struck out two and gave up a base-hit during a scoreless ninth inning.

Lost in this game was a solid effort from SK starter Gary Glover. The Glove tossed seven innings(114 pitches, 73 strikes) of two-run ball(one earned). Glover allowed four hits and two hit batsmen while striking out nine.