KBO Playoffs Round 1, Game 2 Roundup and News

I guess getting beaten 12-3 brings out the ugly. Hat tip to Aaron at the EWC. The Joongang Daily offers a similar, but more scathing, account of the events in Busan. I know last nights' game was stopped during the 6th inning due to a disturbance behind the Lions dugout. I guess now we know why.

The Korea Times and Joongang Daily offer their version of last nights events.

On to the roundup...


"1 more win. 1 more win."

Samsung 4, Lotte 3
W - Jeong Hyeon-wook, L - Kang Yeong-shik, S - Oh Seung-hwan
Samsung leads 2-0

Where did this come from? I thought Lotte was unbeatable at Fortress Sajik? How did the Lions with their questionable pitching, not quite ready for prime time offense and bored manager manage to beat the mighty Giants? Twice. In thier own stadium. The simple answer is patience. Lotte has taken an agressive, swing-first-ask-questions-later approach to hitting, while the Lions have actually taken the advice of their old Little League coach. "Wait for your pitch." Last night, the Lions received 7 walks and 1 HBP. On Wednesday, it was 6 walks and 1 HBP. The Giants, in comparison, have drawn exactly 2 walks in the first two games.

Last night, starters John Ennis and Son Min-han both tried to put me to sleep. Ennis threw 73 pitches(44 strikes) during his 2 2/3 innings of work. It took Son 95 pitches to throw 4 2/3 innings. The early innings...took a while.

Samsung got the party started right with a seeing-eye, RBI single from Jo Dong-chan in the 2nd inning. Lotte answered right back in the 3rd inning with an RBI single from Lee Dae-ho. Samsung struck again in the 4th inning. 1st baseman, Chae Tae-in clubbed a solo homer into the right field seats to give Samsung a 2-1 advantage. Samsung loaded the bases with 2 out in the top of the 5th, but Lotte reliever Kang Yeong-shik used a nasty breaking ball to strike out Choi Hyeong-woo to end the threat. Lotte tied the game in the 5th inning on a groundball from Jo Seong-hwan. Jo didn't record an RBI because he grounded into a double play or as I like to call it a "Paul Konerko Special." The score remained tied at 2 until the top of the 7th inning. With the bases loaded and 1 out, Jerry Royster brought in Choi Hyang-nam to get Lotte out of the jam. Samsung shortstop, Park Jin-man, slapped a double off the wall in left to score 2 runs and give Samsung a 2-run advantage.

Samsung closer, Oh Seung-hwan, came out to pitch the 8th inning. He put the Giants down without much of a fight. Oh stayed out for the 9th inning. Things got interesting. Lotte's Kim Min-seong lead off with a base hit up the middle. Oh got Park Ki-hyeok to line out to right. One out. Then, Lotte's Kim Joo-chan clubbed a double into the gap in left center to drive in Kim and put the tying run in scoring position with 1 out. The next batter, Lee In-koo struck out swinging for the 2nd out. Lotte's Jo Seong-hwan hit a scorching line drive to right.....but it was caught for the 3rd out. High fives all around for Samsung.

The next game is Saturday at 2pm in Daegu. Starting pitchers haven't been announced yet. I'm assuming its Jang Won-joon for Lotte and Lee Sang-mok for Samsung.

KBO Playoffs Round 1, Game 1 Roundup and News

It must be playoff time in Korea. The inflatable animals have been released.

The Korea Times has a write up of last nights events.

In other news, Koreabeat has posted this. I'm actually not sure what to say. The idea of Koreans attempting an alcohol ban does not compute. It does say the sale of alcoholic beverages, not the consumption. I think we're still going to see vendors outside the stadium selling beer and soju. I don't think there's anything to worry about....yet.

Samsung 12, Lotte 3

W - Bae Yeong-su, L - Song Seung-joon
Samsung leads 1-0

Wow. I didn't see this one coming at all. If I had never seen a KBO game and I watched last night for the first time, I would have to assume that Samsung is the best team in the league. The Lions dominated every facet of the game last night. They hit, they ran, they caught, they threw. They looked like a competent baseball team. Where were these guys all year?

Lotte got the party started with an RBI single from Son Kwang-min in the 2nd inning and it looked like it would be a long night for Samsung pitching. Then, the 3rd inning happened. Lotte starting pitcher, Song Seung-joon couldn't get anyone out. It was a 7-run, hit parade that featured 11 men coming to the plate. Looking at Song's season numbers, I was surprised that his WHIP was so high for a pitcher with an ERA under 4. Last night, the baseball gods evened things out. Song only lasted 2 2/3 innings last night. He allowed 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. But look at the bright side! He might be able to pitch game 4!

The top of the order delivered for Samsung. Leadoff hitter, Park Han-yi, finished the night 4-6 with a double, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Park Seok-min hit from the #2 slot and delivered a line of 4-5 with a HBP, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. The ageless wonder Yang Joon-hyeok, hitting 3rd, went 3-5 with a walk, 2 RBI and 1 run scored.

Samsung starter, Bae Yeong-su, was Bae Yeong-su. He labored through 5 innings(70 pitches, 43 strikes) of "bend, but don't break" baseball. He allowed 3 runs on 6 hits with 2 K's. The Samsung bullpen closed the door on any kind of a Lotte comeback. 3 relievers scattered 3 hits over the last 4 innings.

The series continues tonight at 6pm with Lotte ace Son Min-han looking to right the ship and John Ennis looking to steal a second victory from Lotte at Sajik Stadium. Son Min-han finished the regular season 12-4 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He struck out 80 batters in 179 innings of work. John Ennis has only been with the Lions for about 5 weeks. Ennis has compiled a 1-3 record with a 3.03 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He struck out 20 in his 29 1/3 innings.