Nexen, LG to clash in opening playoff round
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Kim Yong-eui of the LG Twins, center, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning during the Korea Baseball Organization wild-card game between the Twins and the Kia Tigers at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southeastern Seoul, Tuesday. With his sacrifice fly, the Twins won 1-0 to advance to the playoff rounds. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
The Nexen Heroes and the LG Twins, the two Seoul-based baseball teams, are set to clash in the opening playoff round of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) starting Thursday.
The Twins, who placed fourth in the regular season, advanced to the best-of-five playoff round after defeating the fifth-place Kia Tigers 1-0 Tuesday night in the wild-card round.
The fourth-place team only needed a tie in two games while the fifth-place team had to win both games. The Twins lost to the Tigers 4-2 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Monday. However, the Twins managed a 1-0 win in the following game on Tuesday thanks to Kim Yong-eui’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning.
This is the second time that the two teams have clashed in the playoffs. Two years ago, the two met in the opening round of the playoffs and the Heroes rolled to a 3-1 series win.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Heroes can dispatch the Twins once again. During the regular season, the Twins took 10 wins while suffering six losses. Also, another big difference from two years ago is that the Heroes lack sluggers Park Byung-ho and Kang Jung-ho who left for the U.S. to play in the Major Leagues.
Predicting the first round of the playoffs, managers of the two teams both said they will pay more attention to details.
“I think our strengths come from the small details. We have been focusing on the little things and trying to stick to the basics when playing. I think the small details will consequently separate the two teams,” Yeom Kyung-yup, manager of the Heroes said during media day at their home Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Wednesday. “I think minimizing mistakes will raise the chances of winning the series.”
The Twins manager Yang Sang-moon said his team’s strengths come from young players who grew to be solid performers during the regular season.
“Throughout the season, I recognized that our players were improving a lot. That’s why we were better in September and October. This is our strongest point. And as Yeom said, the series will be decided by small things,” Yang said.
For the first game of the opening playoff round, Yeom said he will start the American right hander Scott McGregor who recorded six wins and three losses with a 5.20 ERA in 14 games this season. Against the Twins, he played one game, threw six innings and allowed two runs.
Yang said Henry Sosa will start the first game. The Dominican right hander, who was on the Heroes side two years ago, recorded 10 wins and nine losses with a 5.16 ERA.
The first and second games will be played at Gocheok Sky Dome on Thursday and Friday, and the third and fourth games will be held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Sunday and Monday. If the series goes to the fifth game, it will be at Gocheok Sky Dome next Wednesday.