Riccardo Schiroli in Taichung (Chinese Taipei)
The Samsung Lions, winners of the Korean Major League (KBO) picked the first win of the 2013 Asia Series defeating (5-2) the Champions of Europe Unipol Bologna (Italy). The power of the Korean line up managed to make the difference. The Italians actually outhit (8-6) the Lions but a 3 run homer by the well known Lion KingSeung Youp Lee sealed the win for his side. With the game tied at 2, Lee came up with 2 outs and 2 runners on to face lefty Junior Oberto, who had intentionally walked clean up hitter Park Sok Minto get to the ledt hander. Lee went down by 2 strikes, then was very close to striking out on a foul tip, got another chance when catcher Sabbatani saw the ball fall from his mitt and worked a full count. The sixth pitch by Oberto was a hanging slider. Lee was all over it and produced 3 runs, leading his team to the victory.
The Lion King had already had a chance to roar in the afternoon when he sent a shot to deep center in the sixth. Unfortunately for him, Bologna’s center fielder Moss came up with a gem of a catch while impacting the wall.
Korean manager Ryu credited the Italians for playing a very good defense and in fact they did.
Bologna was pretty solid on the mound as well, with starter Blevinsgoing 6 innings and 20 year old rookie Crepaldi providing some consistent set up work.
The Lions used 4 pitchers to combine for the win: starter Baek and relievers Shin Yong Woon, Sim Chang Min (who was credited with the win) and An Ji Man (who earned the save). Bologna had a chance to go ahead in the score in the seventh, just after tying the game. With runners at first and second, shortstop Infante went deep to the right, but his shot was turned into the second out of the inning with a great running catch by rightfielder Park Han Yi, who also doubled up the lead runner, who had taken off too early.
BOX SCORE
The Rakuten Golden Eagles needed a 5 run eigth inning to beat (6-1) the brave Eda Rhinos. The home team seemed in control for most of the game, thanks to an outstanding performance by starter Nick Green, who proved to be a master of finesse.
Eagles starting pitcher Karashima struggled in a few occasions, survived a runner in scoring position in the fifth, after giving up a double to Yang, and surrendered the lead on a base hit by first baseman Zheng in the sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh the Golden Eagles finally got to Green and tied the game on a single by center fielder Hirisawa.
Reliever Yang Chien Fu worked an easy first out and would have had the second, if Zheng hadn’t misplayed a slow roller. All of a sudden, the bases were loaded. A chopper by third baseman Alaminai went over the head of the shortstop on a bad hop and Yang walked designated hitter Kosai. The Rhinos went to the bull pen 2 more times, but Tsai Ming Jin allowed a pair of hits (to Nishida and Shima) and left for H.Y. Chen, who surrendered the sixth and final run on a sac fly by Hirisawa.
Veteran Shinichiro Koyama pitched the ninth in a non save situation to end the game.
BOX SCORE
