Rematch of opener set for starting pitchers in KBO postseason elimination game

By Yoo Jee-ho

GWANGJU, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- With one club looking to advance and the other trying to stay alive in the ongoing South Korean baseball postseason, the two starting pitchers that met in the series opener will collide again Friday evening.

The Samsung Lions grabbed a 2-1 lead over the Kia Tigers in their best-of-five battle in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason, following a 6-4 victory in Game 3 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Thursday.

For Friday's elimination game, the Lions will turn to Chris Paddack.

The right-hander was the losing pitcher when the Lions dropped Game 1 by the score of 5-1 on Monday. He gave up five runs on five hits, including two home runs, in 4 2/3 innings then. He threw 94 pitches.

Before Thursday's game, Paddack had told reporters he had doubts about his ability to go on three days' rest but hinted he would do whatever he was asked to do because he was in the postseason.

Manager Park Jin-man said he would not have forced Paddack to pitch on short rest, but he chose to make an exception for the postseason.

"We have to use our best resources available and make sure we have no regrets after games," Park said. "And Paddack accepted it right away. He said he wanted to get his revenge after how Game 1 went down. I think he will pitch a good game."

The Tigers will try to extend their season by putting James Naile on the mound Friday. He held the Lions to one single in 4 1/3 innings before earning an automatic ejection by hitting Park Seung-kyu in the head with a fastball, his 57th pitch.

"Our back is against the wall, and there is no need to complicate things. We have to go with our best pitcher available," Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho said. "Having him start tomorrow will give us the best chance to win."