Wyverns Down Dragons in Opener
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Kim Kwang-hyun allowed one run over six innings and Kim Jae-hyun hit two doubles as the SK Wyverns defeated Japan's Chunichi Dragons 6-3 in the opener of the Konami Cup Asia Series at the Tokyo Dome Thursday.
Kwang-hyun, a hard-throwing 18-year-old starter, gave up three hits and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings against the Dragons lineup that failed to adjust to the lefty's assortment of quality pitches that included a fastball that touched 145 kph and a sweeping curve.
Jae-hyun went 2 for 4 with an RBI and scored three runs to secure the first win by a Korean team against a Japanese team in the cup.
The Nov. 8-11 tournament features the league champions from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, and the best players from China, with the top two teams clashing in the final Sunday.
The Wyverns and Dragons were considered a level above Taiwan's Uni-President Lions and China's China Stars, which means that the Wyverns are now penciled in as a good bet to win it all.
The Wyverns opened their account against Dragons starter Kenichi Nakata in the top of the fourth, with Jae-hyun hitting a double and reaching home on an infield hit by Lee Jin-young to put his team ahead.
Jae-hyun's double in the sixth inning brought home Cho Dong-hwa and Lee brought Jae-hyun home with another infield hit to make it 3-0.
The Wyverns scored three runs in the seventh on a double by Jeung Keun-woo, an error, and an RBI single by Lee Ho-joon to make it 6-0.
The Dragons responded by a two-run homer by pinch hitter Inoue Kazuki in the bottom of the seventh and scored another run on a sacrifice fly by Hirokazu Ibata in the eighth that made it 6-3.