Veteran lefty to face young righty in crucial Korean Series game

INCHEON, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) — SK Wyverns’ veteran left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun will take the hill to start a crucial Korean Series game on Thursday at home, opposed by a young right-hander Lee Young-ha for the Doosan Bears.

The Wyverns hold a 2-1 series lead over the Bears after a 7-2 victory on Wednesday at home, SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, just west of Seoul.

Games 4 and 5 will both be at SK Happy Dream Park, with Games 6 and 7, if necessary, back at the Bears’ home, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.

Kim will be making his ninth career Korean Series appearance. He’s gone 3-2 with a save and a 2.62 ERA in 34 1/3 innings.

In this file photo from Nov. 2, 2018, Kim Kwang-hyun of the SK Wyverns throws a pitch against the Nexen Heroes in Game 5 of the second round playoff series in the Korea Baseball Organization at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

The 30-year-old is one of few remaining members of the Wyverns’ early dynasty — they played in every Korean Series from 2007 to 2012, and won the championships in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Kim pitched in every one of those Korean Series except for 2009, when he was out with an injury.

Kim was excellent against the Bears in the regular season, going 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA in four starts. He struck out 26 in 22 2/3 innings while serving up just one home run — to cleanup Kim Jae-hwan.

Among other regulars, leadoff Heo Kyoung-min went 6-for-13 against Kim Kwang-hyun, and DH Choi Joo-hwan, who is batting .545 this series, was 3-for-9 against Kim in the regular season.

Lee Young-ha, who turned 21 last week, will be making his Korean Series debut. He was 10-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 40 regular season games. He spent the early part of the season in the bullpen but became a starter in late July.

Lee went 5-0 in his final seven regular season starts with a 3.27 ERA in 41 1/3 innings.

In three regular season appearance versus the Wyverns, Lee was 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA. Only two backups, Jung Eui-yoon and Na Ju-hwan, went deep against the right-hander. Two sluggers, Choi Jeong and Han Dong-min, both went 1-for-7 against Lee.

In this file photo from Sept. 14, 2018, Lee Young-ha of the Doosan Bears throws a pitch against the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)