SOUTH KOREA – Kim Kwang-hyeon struck out seven and Park Kyeong-won drove in three runs to lead SK Wyverns past the Seoul Heroes 5-4 Sunday to complete the three-game sweep.

The two-time Korean League champion blasted five home runs in a series opening 16-4 rout on Friday. Designated hitter Kim Jae-hyeon hit a three-run bomb in the first, and SK starter Koh Hyo-joon struck out 11 in six strong innings to earn the win.

SK raced out to an 8-0 lead Saturday and hit three more long balls in a 10-3 victory. Song Eun-beom scattered a run on four hits in six innings to pick up the win, while Jeong Geun-woo and Park Kyeong-won hit their second home run in as many days.

Kim, the 2008 Korea Baseball Organization MVP, allowed four runs and seven hits in a so-so outing, and trailed 4-0 when he eparte after six innings. However, SK rallied in a four-run seventh highlighted by Park’s two-run single to tie the game. Park added an RBI sacrifice fly in the ninth to complete the comeback.

HANWHA CLAIMS SERIES OVER LOTTE

The Lotte Giants hit four home runs in Sunday’s series finale to capture a 7-4 victory over the Hanwha Eagles after a pair of losses in the first two weekend battles.

Hanwha opene the series Friday with an 8-3 win as Ryu Hyeon-jin earne his second win of the season. The ace pitcher allowed a pair of runs and three hits in 7 1/3 innings while striking out eight. Lee Beom-ho and Oh Seon-jin both homered off Lotte starter Song Seung-joon.

Both teams combined for seven home runs Saturday as Hanwha claimed a 10-6 victory. Kang Dong-woo, Shin Kyeong-hyeon and Yeon Kyeong-heum each connected for two-run shots off Lotte starter Heo Joon-hyeok. Lee Dae-ho and Karim Garcia hit back-to-back long balls in the 7th inning off Song Jin-woo.

Lotte’s second baseman Cho Seong-hwan clubbed a pair of homers in the series finale, and Lee Dae-ho was 4-fo-5 with a homer and two RBI’s for the Giants who avoided the series sweep. Closer Jon Adkins registered the final three outs to earn his third save of the season.

KIA AVOIDS SWEEP AGAINST SAMSUNG

Yang Hyeon-jong threw eight scoreless innings and the KIA Tigers rebounded from a pair of losses to beat Samsung 1-0 Sunday to avoid the series sweep.

Samsung’s Yoon Seong-hwan worked 6 2/3 innings in Friday’s 5-2 win in the series opener. Yoon picked up his second win of the season and Oh Seung-hwan struck out the side in the ninth to earn his second save. First baseman Chae Tae-in hit his first home run after returning from a five game suspension due to his role in a gambling scandal during the offseason.

The Lions prevailed in a low-scoring 2-1 win in 10 innings in Game Two Saturday. KIA’s lone run came on a solo homer from Choi Hee-seop in the fourth while Samsung shortstop Park Jin-man went deep in the 10th. Oh worked a scoreless 10th to record his third save.

The Tigers finally managed to get into the win column in the series finale behind Yang and reliever Han Ki-joo. Yang limited Samsung to four hits before Han fanned two in the ninth to pick up his first save of the young season.

The lone score of the game came in the fourth when KIA rightfielder Lee Hyeong-gon hit a fly ball to deep right with runners on 2nd and 3rd to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Tags: South Korea