Lions edge Heroes 3-1 in Korean Series Game 3

Samsung Lions’ Park Han-yi, third from right, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the 9th inning for the team’s 3-1 win over the Nexen Heroes at the Game 3 of the Korean Series at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul, Friday. The Lions leads the series 2-1. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Samsung Lions beat the Nexen Heroes 3-1 Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Korean Series, putting them in pole position to regain their title as champions.

The Lions' veteran right fielder Park Han-yi smashed a crucial two-run homers against Heroes’ reliever Han Hyun-hee in the ninth inning at the Mokdong Baseball Stadium , Seoul. This meant the Lions claimed their second win in the best-of-seven final series of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

With this latest victory, the Lions, who led the regular season with a 78-47-3 record, need two more wins to complete an historic fourth consecutive Korean Series triumph. Since the team joined the KBO in the first year of the league in 1982, the Lions have claimed six Korean Series titles.

At the previous games held at the Lions’ home stadium in Daegu, the two teams were tied with one game apiece. In KBO history, of the 11 times the Korea Series has been tied 1-1, the Game 3 winner has went on to claim the title 10 times.

It was a home run that took a pivotal role in turning the tide of Game 3.

Vinny Rottino, the first-year American hitter for the Heroes, slammed a crucial solo homer against the Lions’ starter Jang Won-sam in the fifth inning, giving his team a 1-0 lead.

Though the Lions’ left starter Jang Won-sam, who finished the regular season 11-5, wasn’t credited with the win, he gave up only one run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings.

However, the Heroes, who finished second in the regular season with the league’s second best record, 78-4-2, allowed a run in the eighth inning when the Lions’ designated hitter Lee Seung-yeop made a hit against the Heroes’ reliever Son Seung-lak, allowing left fielder Choi Hyung-woo to run home.

In the ninth inning, the Lions’ right fielder Park Han-yi hit a two-run homer against the Heroes’ reliever Han Hyun-hee, making his team lead the game 3-1.

The Lions’ closer Lim Chang-yong finished the game, shutting out three batters in the last inning. Park was made MVP of Game 3.

The Korean Series will continue in Mokdong, Seoul Saturday at 2 p.m. The Lions named J.D. Martin as their Game 4 starter, while the Heroes will counter with Andy Van Hakken, who was credited with the win in Game 1. The game will be broadcast by SBS television.