Yoon Suk-min is emerging as the ace of a solid starting rotation for the Kia Tigers. / Korea Times File |
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
In April, when the season started, the Kia Tigers, which finished first in exhibition games, fell to the bottom of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) standings with an 8-17 mark.
However, they showed signs of rebounding, finishing 14-11 last month, and are now on the upswing due to their strong rotation
The Tigers, who stand sixth in the season rankings, are on a 6-3 run this month and their rotation, which is composed of inning-eaters Yoon Suk-min, Seo Jae-weong, Lee Dae-jin, Jose Lima and Lee Beom-seok, post a staggering 2.19 ERA during the stride.
In addition, they had seven quality starts, which means a starting hurler delivers at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs.
Right-handed pitcher Yoon Suk-min, who was 7-18 last season despite a competitive 3.78 ERA, leads the league in wins with eight and his ERA of 2.71 is the third best behind Lotte Giants right-hander Son Min-han's 2.03 and SK Wyverns' Chae Byung-yong, who notches a 2.07.
The three-year pro, who has won six times in the past seven games with a 2.15 ERA, has burned up 88 1/3 innings, the most in the league.
Seo, who returned from a thigh injury Sunday, tossed six scoreless innings against the Samsung Lions.
The addition of the former U.S. Major Leaguer helps the Tigers, a nine-time Korean Series champion, solidify its rotation.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who joined the Tigers earlier this year after ending his six-year career in the United States, is 3-3 in 10 outings, while compiling a 3.32 ERA.
Thirteen-year veteran Lee Dae-jin, who had three shoulder operations in 2000, 2001 and 2004, proves he still has fuel left in his tank.
The 92-game winning hurler has showed strong performances this season with a 3.74 ERA, but poor support from the Tigers batters limits him 2-7.
Another big leaguer, Jose Lima, who was on the brink of being released after his first four starts, has lived up to expectations.
The former 20-game winner is 3-2 in six appearances after a two-week stint on the Tigers' second-tier squad.
Lee Beom-seok, who tossed a four-hitter in seven innings against the Woori Heroes Wednesday, joined the rotation midway through April and has started eight games to record three wins against as many losses with a 3.15.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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