Korean Series berth within grasp, Bears' manager looking to finish off Wiz

All News 16:42 November 12, 2020

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- The Doosan Bears are sitting one win away from booking their sixth straight trip to South Korean baseball's championship series. And with the Bears holding a 2-0 lead over the KT Wiz in their best-of-five penultimate round in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason, Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung isn't going to mess around during Thursday's Game 3.

"We're going to try to win tonight," Kim said in his pregame media availability at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "We may even use one of our starting pitchers out of the bullpen, depending on the situation."

Doosan Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung (L) salutes the crowd after beating the KT Wiz 4-1 in Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization second-round postseason series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)

If the Bears complete their sweep Thursday, they will have four days off before the Korean Series begins Tuesday. The NC Dinos, who had the best record in the regular season, earned a bye to the Korean Series.

The Bears would then have their No. 1 starter, Chris Flexen, well rested and ready to go in Game 1. Right-hander Raul Alcantara, who will start Thursday, would be available for Game 2 on five days' rest.

Alcantara dealt with some neck stiffness during the previous round, and is pitching Thursday on six days' rest. Kim said the Dominican right-hander should be fine after an extended break.

Flexen was dominant in his 7 1/3 innings in the 3-2 Game 1 victory, as he struck out 11 batters. In Game 2, it was the bullpen's turn to carry the team, with four relievers combining for 6 1/3 shutout innings in a 4-1 win.

When asked about struggles of some hitters, though, Kim declined to elaborate, saying, "Some hitters are doing better than others. It'd be nice to capitalize on opportunities more often,"

Park Kun-woo of the Doosan Bears celebrates his single against the KT Wiz during the top of the sixth inning of Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization second-round postseason series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)

Kim spent some time chatting with Park Kun-woo, who was the primary leadoff hitter during the regular season but has moved down to the No. 9 spot for the postseason.

A lifetime .326 hitter in the regular season, Park is only batting 2-for-14 in four postseason games so far, including the previous round against the LG Twins.

"I didn't tell him anything special. I just felt he was rushing things a bit at the plate," Kim said. "I said he should try to slow things down and let the game come to him."

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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