Kia even Korean Series with 1-0 win over Doosan

Kia Tigers’ starting pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, left, reacts after throwing a complete-game shutout against the Doosan Bears in Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Thursday. The Tigers won 1-0. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Kia Tigers’ southpaw ace Yang Hyeon-jong tossed a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win over the Doosan Bears at Game 2 of Korean Series, Thursday.

With the win, the Tigers evened the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League against the Bears at one game apiece. The two teams will play Game 3 at the Bears’ home park, Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, Saturday.

At Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Yang tossed a four-hitter and struck out 11 while throwing 122 pitches. This was the 21st complete game shutout in postseason history of the KBO League and 10th in Korean Series.

The two teams started their southpaw aces for Game 2 and the Chang Won-jun of the Bears and Yang had a classic pitchers’ battle trading zeroes.

The Bears could earn their first and final run when the Bears lifted Chang after the seventh inning.

Kim Joo-chan led off the bottom of the eighth inning after hitting a double to right field off the Bears’ reliever Ham Deok-ju. Kim arrived on third base as Roger Bernadina laid down a sacrifice bunt.

After walking the Tigers’ slugger Choi Hyung-woo, Na Ji-wan hit a grounder right at third baseman Hur Kyoung-min. Hur threw home to start a rundown on Kim, and after a couple of exchanges, Kim sprinted home to score the first and the last run.