Rising Wyverns Chasing Tigers
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Just last week, a league pennant and trip to the Korean Series looked all but certain for the resurgent Kia Tigers.
But the late-charging SK Wyverns are riding a nine-game winning streak and trail the league leader by just three games in the standings.
On Tuesday in Gwanju, the league's top two clubs will begin a two-game series, seen as the de-facto Korean Series.
The two-time defending champion Wyverns' bid for a three-peat looked to be in jeopardy when left-handed ace Kim Kwang-hyun suffered a season-ending wrist injury last month.
To make matters worse, the bullpen ― comprised of Yoon Gil-hyon, Jung Woo-ram and Kim Won-hyong, who were big contributors to their title races in the past two years ― was slowed by injuries and fatigue, contributing to the team's drop to third place in July.
But American right-hander Gary Glover, 32, has gone 6-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 14 outings this season since joining the Incheon-based club in June. He has delivered 51 innings and allowed just five earned runs in his last eight appearances ― seven starts and one in relief ― claiming four victories.
The 32-year-old has also eased the burden on the bullpen by eating up more than seven innings in six appearances.
Yoon has been much better of late, as well, notching four wins and as many holds with a 1.77 ERA in 20 games.
On offense, Park Jae-hong, Park Jae-sang and Jung Keun-woo have given the Wyverns a big boost, providing big strokes when needed.
Meanwhile, after reducing their magic number to nine on Wednesday, the Tigers have lost three straight.
The nine-time champion took a serious hit, dropping two in a row to third-place Doosan Bears, despite sending their aces ― 12-game winner Aquilino Lopez of the Dominican Republic and nine-game winner Yoon Suk-min ― to the mound.
Yoon, 23, who entered the game with a league-best 2.79 ERA, was hit hard, giving up 10 runs in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday, and saw his mark rise to 3.46.
In addition, poor defense has emerged as an x-factor to the Tigers' title run as defensive errors proved costly in all three losses.
The Tigers are still in control, despite the Wyverns' late surge. As of Monday the Tigers had a record of 72-4-44 with 13 games left, while the Wyverns are at 70-5-47 with 11 to play.
If the Tigers win both games and extend their lead to five, they would take a stranglehold on the pennant race, which they have not won since 1997, needing only five wins in their last 11 to clinch.
In the event that both teams end in a tie, the Tigers would earn the automatic qualification to the Korean Series based on their head-to-head record against the Wyverns ― 10-2-5.
However, if the Wyverns take both games, Kim Sung-keun's side will find themselves just one game back.