Thursday, October 27, 2011

Samsung 2, SK 1



Samsung leads the series, 2-0
W - Kwon Oh-joon (1-0), L - Park Hee-su (0-1), S - Oh Seung-hwan (2)
Samsung HR - None
SK HR - None

Pitching ruled the day again in game two of the 2011 Korean Series.

Samsung starter Jang Won-sam looked rested and refreshed for his game two start. It showed in his performance. Jang tossed 5 1/3 innings(90 pitches, 59 strikes) of scoreless baseball. Jang gave up only three hits and two walks while striking out ten.

SK starter Yoon Hee-sang was forced from the game after the first inning due to a shoulder issue. Lee Seung-ho came to relieve him and tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Lee was lifted in the four inning when he got into a jam with runners on first and second with two outs. SK called on Brian Gordon to get out of it and he delivered. Gordon got Samsung second baseman Shin Myeong-cheol to hit a fly to right to end the threat.

SK put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the sixth inning. It looked like they would finally break out of their team-wide offensive slump and score a few runs. Jang got SK right fielder Park Jeong-kwon to hid a grounder to the mound. Jang froze the runner at third and calmly tossed it over to first for the first out of the inning. Jang was lifted for reliever Kwon Oh-joon. Kwon struck out both DH Ahn Chi-yong and center fielder Kim Kang-min to end the threat and get Samsung out of a huge jam.

It was Samsung's turn to put SK in a tough spot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Samsung loaded the bases with two outs. Samsung left fielder Bae Yeong-seop came to the plate and quickly fell behind 0-2. Bae fouled off a few pitches and took a close pitch for a ball before poking a base hit back through the middle. Bae's hit drove in a pair and gave Samsung a 2-0 lead. Both runners advanced on an errant throw back to the infield by center fielder Kim Kang-min. Short stop Kim Sang-su flied out to end the threat, but the damage was already done.

SK finally broke through in the eighth inning. The Wyverns put runners on first and second with no outs. SK left fielder Park Jae-sang put a base hit into center field to drive in SK's first run of the series and cut the Lions' lead in half. With runners still on first and second with no outs, Samsung called on closer Oh Seung-hwan to get them out of the jam. Oh got DH Ahn Chi-yong to pop out to the catcher and struck out Kim Kang-min. SK first baseman Choi Dong-su put a base hit into center. SK were poised to tie the game, but Samsung center fielder Lee Yeong-wook made a perfect throw to the plate to nail the runner and end the inning.

Oh Seung-hwan stayed in for the ninth and struck out the side to end the game.

The series moves to Incheon's Munhak Stadium for game three. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 6 PM local time. Starters have yet to be announced. SK will have to choose between Song Eun-beom and Kim Kwang-hyeon. Samsung will either go with Yoon Seong-hwan or Justin Germano. An update will be provided as soon as starters are announced.

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