 SK Wyverns slugger Park Jung-kwon celebrates after hitting his second two-run homer in Game 5 of the second round playoffs against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Ballpark, Busan, Sunday. / Yonhap |
By Yoon Chul
SK Wyverns slugger Park Jung-kwon has been called the “man of the postseason” and he proved this once again.
Park hit two two-run home runs in an 8-4 win in Game 5 of the best-of-five second round playoffs at Sajik Ballpark, Sunday, putting the Wyverns into the Korean Series against regular season champion, the Samsung Lions.
The Wyverns, the defending champions, reached the Korean Series for the fifth consecutive season while the Giants exited in the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season.
As decider of the second round was postponed to Sunday due to rain, the best-of-seven Korean Series was also pushed back one day and will start Tuesday.
Looking at the result, the Giants manager Yang Seung-ho’s decisions to substitute pitchers appeared to be wrong.
Meanwhile, Wyverns interim manager Lee Man-soo pulling ace Kim Kwang-hyun to the dugout after he stumbled in the first inning worked out with Brian Gordon pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Busan-based team was the first to score.
Leadoff hitter Kim Joo-chan hit a triple and Jeon Joon-woo’s RBI-double gave the Giants a 1-0 lead.
The Giants had another chance to score when Lee Dae-ho was walked. But Giants captain Hong Sung-heon ended the inning by hitting a ground ball for a double-play.
In the fourth the visitors cooled down the home fans.
After Choi Jung recorded his third hit of the game, Park went to the plate. Giants starter Song Seung-joon tried to pitch fastball into the low inside but it went slightly to the middle and Park didn’t miss, sending the ball over the right fence for a 2-1 lead.
The Wyverns didn’t miss any chances in the fifth.
Giants starter Seong Sung-joon stepped down from mound after pitching 4 2/3 innings, and Jang Woon-joon, who pitched four scoreless innings for a 2-0 win in Game 4, Thursday, came in.
As Jang had an extra day’s rest thanks to the postponement the Giants expected him to occupy the mound longer but he collapsed allowing three consecutive hits and one run.
The next reliever Chris Bootcheck’s wild pitch allowed the third base runner home for the Wyverns fourth score.
Wyverns slugger Park made the home side desperate in the sixth hitting another two run homer for a 6-1 lead.
The Giants, however, didn’t back off.
With runners on first and second after a hit and a walk, captain Hong hit an RBI-double and catcher Kang Min-ho also smashed a two-run double to trail 6-4.
The Incheon-based team ran away from the Giants’ in the eighth.
Without a single out the Wyverns occupied first and second following a hit and an error. Giants second reliever Kim Sa-yul allowed the runners to the next base on a wild pitch and Ahn Chi-yong and Kim Kang-min hit an RBI-single and -double for the victory.
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