Lions 1 win from repeat

By Kang Seung-woo

Samsung Lions closer Oh Seung-hwan, right, and catcher Jin Kab-yong celebrate in the top of the ninth inning after defeating the SK Wyverns 2-1 in Game 5 of the Korean Series in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap

Collective solid performances on the mound got the Samsung Lions one win away from repeating in the Korean Series Wednesday in a 2-1 win over the SK Wyverns in Game 5 in Seoul.

Right-handed starter Yun Sung-hwan lasted six innings and allowed one run to the red-hot Wyverns batters, who exploded for 16 runs in the last two games, and three relievers combined for three scoreless innings.

Taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, one more win will give the Daegu-based club its sixth Korean championship — the Lions claimed the title in 1985, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2011.

In Korean Series history, a team, which reached three victories first, claimed the title 27 times out of 29.

Trailing 2-1, the Wyverns, which was held hitless by three relievers in the seventh and eighth innings, had a final chance to win the game in the top of the ninth.

Choi Jeong led off the inning with a triple off the center-field fence and one out later, Park Jung-kwon drew a walk, but closer Oh Seung-hwan retired Kim Kang-min and Park Jin-man with strikeouts for his second save of the series.

The Lions, on a two-game losing streak, broke open the game in the bottom of the first.

Jung Hyung-sik, who hit a single to left, reached third base on Lee Seung-yeop’s single to right and scored on a wild pitch by Wyverns starter Yoon Hee-sang.

The defending champions doubled the lead in the third, as with runners on first and third, Park Han-yi’s grounder brought home Lee Seung-yeop.

The Wyverns, which clinched three championships in last five years, made one run in the fourth thanks to three consecutive singles, capped off by Lee Ho-joon’s RBI single to right.

Later in the inning, the Incheon-based team had runners on first and third with two outs, but Lee Ho-joon was caught in a rundown between third and home on a botched double steal attempt.

Yun Sung-hwan, who tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run to become the winning pitcher in the series opener last week, picked up his second victory, while Oh earned his eighth career save in the Korean Series.

Game 6 will take place today at Jamsil Stadium.