By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
The Doosan Bears clinched their first-round playoff series with the Lotte Giants on Saturday, setting up a matchup with the SK Wyverns for the third consecutive year.
The Seoul-based Bears pounded the Giants 9-5 in Game 4 of the best-of-five series in Busan.
The Bears rebounded after losing the first game of the series, winning the next three. They earned the right to meet the second-place Wyverns for a spot in the Korean Series.
It marks the first time in 27 years that a team has advanced to the second round after losing Game 1.
The Bears also pounded the Giants 12-3 in Busan in Game 3 Friday.
The Giants sent side-arm pitcher Bae Jang-ho to the mound, looking to force a fifth and deciding game. Bae, whose ERA was 1.50 against the Bears entering the match, got off to a good start and received help from slugger Lee Dae-ho who opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.
But the difference in the game was the Bears ability to maintain their concentration and avoid errors, while the Giants inability to do so proved costly.
The 22-year-old converted reliever Bae, who was carrying the weight of the team's hopes on his shoulders, gave up a walk to Yong Deok-han to leadoff the third. Yong had failed to reach base in his last nine at bats in the playoff series.
Bae then fell behind in the count to Lee Jong-wook, who brought Yong around to score on an RBI double.
The Giants pitcher was unable to stop the bleeding, giving up hits to the next two batters.
After striking out Bears veteran slugger Kim Dong-joo, Bae gave up an RBI single to Lee Sung-yeol, giving Doosan a 3-1 lead.
If the Giants could have gotten out of the third inning, they may have had a chance to even the series, but a crucial error put the team in a deeper hole.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Giants captain Cho Sung-hwan botched a chance to end the inning, fumbling a ground ball by Min Byung-hyun, allowing another run to score.
Leadoff hitter Yong then smacked a bases-clearing double to give the Bears a 7-1 lead.
It was the second game in a row that the Giants were plagued by a big inning. Doosan scored six in the second inning of Game 3.
The Giants did get another solo home run by Kim Joo-chan, but the Bears piled on an additional two runs on doubles by Lee Jong-wook and Kim Dong-joo, and an error by Giants third baseman Jung Bo-myung.
The Bears ace Kim Sun-woo grabbed his first postseason victory, allowing two runs on two homers in five innings of work.
"We were able to take advantage of the Giants pitchers, who did not play well. I thought we would have to play Game 5, and I had prepared my pitcher for the last game. But the series ended earlier than I expected," Bears manager Kim Kyung-moon said.
"The first game of the playoffs was the best game," Giants manager Jeron Kennis Royster said. "During the other three games we were up and down too much. If we couldn't play steady, we couldn't produce a victory against a good team like the Bears. Today we made a lot of errors. It's a shame."
"But I am proud of my players," Royster added.
He also addressed his future with the club.
"I had a really good time with the Giants. The team wanted to talk about me re-signing. I told them, we would address that after the postseason. Now I can start negotiations.
"If this was my last game in Korea, then it has really been a great experience. I really appreciated everyone here," the American manager said.
Bears captain Kim Dong-joo was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the series but said he isn't sure if he is the most deserving of the award.
"I feel sorry because Kim Hyun-soo did better than me," captain Kim said.
"I will try to extend our ascendancy in the second round of playoffs.
"The most important thing in the postseason is dealing with the pressure. When I feel comfortable and relaxed, good things happen."
The 33-year-old captain went 6-for-13 (.462 batting average) with one homer and seven RBIs in the post season. His grand slam in Game 3 was a devastating blow to the Giants' confidence.
The Bears begin their second round playoff series with the Wyverns in Incheon, Wednesday.
Bears boss Kim said the team is anxious to take another shot at the squad that has ended their last two seasons.
"We don't want to lose to the same team three consecutive years. My boys are also eager to beat them," Kim said.
"The Wyverns don't have any real weaknesses we can exploit. They have good batters whose technique is really good. And they don't miss their chances. We can only get our revenge on the Wyverns if our young and veteran pitchers really concentrate on the game."