 The Samsung Lions celebrate their Korean Series victory tossing manager Ryu Joong-il into the air after beating the SK Wyverns in Game 5 at Jamsil Ballpark, Seoul, Monday. The Lions won the title 4-1. / Yonhap |
By Yoon Chul
The Samsung Lions won the Korean Series Monday beating defending champions SK Wyverns, and grabbing their first championship win in five years.
At Jamsil Ballpark the Lions’ pitchers contained the Wyverns batters, leading the team to a 1-0 victory in Game 5 of the Korean Series for a 4-1 takedown, avenging last year’s 4-0 defeat.
Lions’ starter Cha Woo-chan pitched seven scoreless innings allowing only five hits, while Kang Bong-kyu hit the game winning solo home run off Wyverns starter Brian Gordon.
Closer Oh Seung-hwan, who shattered the Wyverns in Games 1, 2 and 5 by closing them out with saves, won the Most Valuable Player award of the series.
Oh went to the mound in the eighth with two outs and recorded his sixth Korean Series save putting him at No. 1 in the playoffs final.
Lions’ manager Ryu Joong-il has now led the team to the championship in his debut year.
“When the regular season began we were in a tough place due to injured players but as we played we kept getting stronger,” Ryu said.
The Lions snatched the regular season title with a 79-4-50 record — 6.5 games ahead of runners-up the Lotte Giants.
“I think today is not the last day but the first day. In order to defend today’s title we will do our best,” added Ryu.
Though the Wyverns led by interim manager Lee Man-soo were defeated, the fans recognized that they are still a strong team.
Starter Gordon allowed only two singles until the fourth.
After the American sent Lions slugger Park Suk-min to the dugout with a strikeout, Kang went to bat and the Lions leftfielder connected to an uncontrolled pitch, smashing it over the left fence for a 1-0 lead.
The Wyverns had previously generated a huge chance in the second inning.
The Lions gave up two walks and one double to load the bases with one out, but Cha ended the inning with two strikeouts.
After the game, the Wyverns announced that interim manager Lee will be the new boss for the next season.
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