7/2 Roundup and News

Doosan 4, LG 3 (11)
W - Noh Kyeong-eun (3-0), L - Lee Sang-yeol (0-5), S - Lee Hyeon-seung (2)
Doosan HR - Choi Joon-seok (11)
LG HR - Park Yong-taek (11)

This game was essentially a big staring contest until the eleventh inning.

LG tied the game at three in the eighth inning when with one out and runner on first, catcher Cho In-seong hit a fly ball to deep right field that Doosan right fielder Jeong Su-bin simply screwed up on. By the time the dust settled, the runner on first had scored and Cho was standing on third with a stand up triple.

Doosan put runners on the corners with one out in the eleventh. Jeong Su-bin struck again. This time he hit a double play ball to short. LG forced the runner at second, but the throw to first was off the mark and Jeong was safe while the runner on third was already in the dugout high-fiving his teammates.

Lost in this one was a two-run homer from Doosan first baseman Choi Joon-seok during a three-run rally in the first inning. Choi went 2-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Also, LG starter Park Hyeon-joon threw the ball fairly well, but was stuck with a ND. After the three-run rally in the first, Park settled in and put eight consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard. Park went nine innings(133 pitches, 85 strikes) and only gave up the three runs. Park allowed four hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out seven.

Doosan catcher Yang Eui-ji left the game after the second inning. Yang was blown up during a play at the plate in the second. LG right fielder Lee Byeong-gyu tried to score on a single to right and tried to bowl over Yang. Yang held onto the ball and got the out, but he was planted in the ground and laid there for a few minutes while his teammates gathered around to watch him.

Nexen 5, SK 3
W - Moon Seong-hyeon (3-5), L - Yoon Hee-sang (0-1), S - Son Seung-rak (6)
Nexen HR - None
SK HR - Choi Jeong (12)

This was SK's fifth straight loss and the defending champs have fallen to third place during this losing streak.

Nexen rallied for a few runs early thanks to a couple timely doubles from DH Oh Yoon and second baseman Kim Min-seong. The Heroes simply held on to their lead for dear life and hoped the bullpen wouldn't choke. Somehow, the Nexen relief corps managed to keep this one together. Four different Nexen relievers managed to keep SK off the scoreboard after started Moon Seong-hyeon left the game after the fifth inning.

SK third baseman Choi Jeong seems like the only Wyvern trying to do anything about the losing streak. Choi went 2-3 with a walk, a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Lotte 8, Samsung 4
W - Brian Corey (4-2), L - Cha Woo-chan (6-3)
Lotte HR - Jeon Joon-woo (6), Lee Dae-ho (20)
Samsung HR - Chae Tae-in (3), Choi Hyeong-woo (17)

Lotte battered Samsung started Cha Woo-chan for almost all of his six innings of work. Cha was charged with all eight Lotte runs(six earned) on nine hits and three walks.

Lotte center fielder/lead off man Jeon Joon-woo went 2-5 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. Slugger Lee Dae-ho went 2-4 with a walk, a homer, one RBI and two runs scored.

Lotte pitcher Brian Corey got what was assumed to be a last chance start and looked pretty good for a guy who has been bounced between roles and leagues all year. Corey tossed 5 1/3 innings(86 pitches, 49 strikes) of two-run baseball. Corey allowed five hits and a hit batsman while striking out three.

Hanhwa 11, KIA 7
W - Ma Il-yeong (2-2), L - Kim Jin-woo (0-1), S - Park Jeong-jin (5)
Hanhwa HR - Kang Dong-woo (9)
KIA HR - Lee Beom-ho (14), Na Ji-wan (5)

This game was actually tied at seven heading into the top of the eighth inning when Hanhwa blew the game open with a four-run rally. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out. Eagles third baseman Lee Yeo-sang hit a double off the wall in left to drive in a pair to give Hanhwa a 9-7 lead. Hanhwa pushed the lead to 11-7 when DH Jang Seong-ho poked a single through the right side to drive in two more runs.

Hanhwa center fielder Kim Dong-woo had a career day. Kim went 3-4 with a walk, a homer, four RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. KIA third baseman Lee Beom-ho lead the Tigers in what turned out to be a losing cause. Lee went 2-4 with a walk, a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.