SOUTH KOREA – Na Ji-hwan smacked two home runs, including a solo walk-off blast, and the Kia Tigers captured the Korean Series championship with a 6-5 win Saturday against SK Wyverns.

The Tigers, who won the 10th Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) title in team history, improved to 10-0 in championship series appearances.

Wyverns took the early lead on a homer off the bat of first baseman Park Jeong-kwon, and took a 5-1 lead in the sixth before Na connected for a two-run shot to cut the lead to 5-3.

The Tigers’ rookie second baseman Ahn Chi-hong made it a one-run affair with a solo homer in the seventh, and Kia pulled even moments later on a bases-loaded RBI single by outfielder Kim Won-seob.

With the score knotted with one out in the ninth, Na tagged SK hurler Chae Byeong-yong with a dramatic, game-winning blast to end Wyverns two-year reign as league champion.

Na, who finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs, was named the MVP of the KBO championship series.

This year’s title matchup was the first time the Korean Series went to a deciding games in five years. The team formerly known as the Hyundai Unicorns topped the Samsung Lions in nine games in a series that featured two contests that ended deadlocked.

Kia center-fielder Lee Jong-beom won the fourth Korean title of his career. The 39-year old claimed his first championship as a rookie in 1993. He was the MVP of the ‘93 series, and was a key member of the ‘96 and ‘97 championship teams.

Photo courtesy of koreabaseball.blogspot.com

Tags: South Korea