Machine Gun SK, Victory Over Cannon Samsung

New SK landed in the postseason for the first time in the last four years, advancing with two sweeping wins over the defending champion Samsung.

It was the second semi-playoff game out of three at Munhak stadium on October 5. SK beat Samsung starter Kim Jin-Ung violently from the beginning and achieved a 3-2 victory after getting the first win last night in Daegu. With this, SK won the best out-of-three games semi-playoffs easily with two straight wins.

Kim Ki-tae played the largest role with three hits and a walk in three at-bats. He opened with a single to center in the 2nd inning with the score tied 0-0, advanced to second base on Kim Jin-ung’s balk, and scored on a timely single to left by Cho Kyung-hwan with one out.

Kim Ki-tae also allowed Diaz to move from first base to scoring position with a single to right with two outs in the 3rd inning after SK gained the lead 2-0 with a double by Kim Min-jae and a single by Lee Ho-june. Park Kyung-hwan’s drive to left increased the lead to 3-0, assuring its victory.

“Data Baseball Strategy” of SK manager Cho Bum-Hyun, taking charge of SK in his first this year, was outstanding on pitcher’s operations. He managed to escape from crisis by putting right hand pitcher Kim Won-hyung following foreign starter Smith against Ma Hae-young with no outs and runners on first and second base in the 4th inning, and a left hand pitcher Lee Sung-Ho against Lee Seung-Yeop with one out and a runner on first base in the 8th inning. He helped weaken Samsung’s strong offense with the surprise start of left hand pitcher Kim Yeong-su the day before.

In the meantime, Samsung failed to score consistently despite 10 hits and two walks due to no follow up hits and the good defense of SK, with the exception of a leadoff single home run by Ko Ji-Haeng in the 4th inning. Samsung scored another run with a single by Kang Dong-wo and a double by Jin Gap-yong with two outs in the 9th inning, but the pinch hitter, Sim Sung-bo, and Ko Ji-Hang both did nothing in their at-bats.

It is the first time in the last 11 years that Samsung didn’t have any wins despite its seven appearances in the semi-playoffs since they opposed Lotte in 1992.

Meanwhile, in the first game, SK lead early with home runs by Park Kyung-Hwan in the 3rd inning and Kim Min-Jae in the 4th inning and managed to defeat Samsung by a score of 6-5, with the help of a solo shot by Lee Seung-yeop in the 5th inning. The first playoff game between Kia, the second place team, and SK will be played at KwangJu stadium on October 9 at 6 p.m.

Hwan-Soo Zang Chang Jeon zangpabo@donga.com jeon@donga.com