(LEAD) ERA champion, unheralded outfielder shine in KBO season-opening victory

▲ Eric Jokisch of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Samsung Lions during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 3, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ Song Woo-hyun of the Kiwoom Heroes hits a two-run single against the Samsung Lions in the bottom of the sixth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 3, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ Fans take in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season regular season game between the home team Kiwoom Heroes and the Samsung Lions at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 3, 2021. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) KBO game-stars

(LEAD) ERA champion, unheralded outfielder shine in KBO season-opening victory

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout)

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- After capturing South Korean baseball's ERA title in 2020, Kiwoom Heroes' left-hander Eric Jokisch picked up where he left off on Saturday.

The American ace tossed seven solid innings against the Samsung Lions on Opening Day at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, allowing only a run on five hits. He struck out two and didn't issue any walk, as the Heroes took the game 6-1.

Jokisch set the tone right from the first inning by getting three straight groundouts. He was perfect in his first time through the Lions' lineup.

Jokisch gave up a leadoff single to Park Hae-min in the fourth, but got two groundballs to get out of the inning unscathed, the latter being a 4-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Koo Ja-wook.

The fifth inning put vintage Jokisch on display, as the left-hander needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order -- a flyout followed by two groundouts.

A leadoff single by Kim Hun-gon in the sixth was erased in a bizarre play. Left fielder Lee Yong-kyu made what appeared to be an outstanding catch at the wall on a ball hit by Lee Hak-ju, though replays showed the ball hit the fence first before landing in the left fielder's glove. Third base umpire Kim Sung-chul signalled the ball wasn't caught and was in play.

But Kim Hun-gon, who made a turn at second base, apparently didn't see the umpire. Thinking the ball had been caught, Kim ran back to first base, and passed Lee Hak-ju, who was standing between first and second base, on the way. Umpires gathered to discuss the play, and called both runners out. Jokisch retired the next batter and faced the minimum 18 batters through six frames.

Jokisch gave up three singles and a run in the seventh, but the Heroes still led 5-1 at that point.

Jokisch got through six innings on 63 pitches, but needed 26 to finish out the seventh. The bullpen took over to begin the eighth and closed out the win.

Jokisch is in his third year in the KBO and this was his first Opening Day start. He said he was "really excited and anxious," and his teammates helped him out by scoring a run in the first inning.

"Overall, I grinded through it, and it was a nice team win," he said. "It was a great way to start the season."

Jokisch pitched to a 2.14 ERA in 159 2/3 innings across 27 starts last year. Asked about his goals for 2021, Jokisch said he will focus on "one game at a time."

"My goals never change. Every year, I'm trying to give the team the best chance to win every game," he said. "If I keep making quality pitches over and over, then it will result in a great season."

At the plate on Saturday, Song Woo-hyun did unexpected damage from No. 9 spot.

He got his first Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) hit with a double in the fifth inning. Though a runner scored on the play, it was after an error by shortstop Lee Hak-ju and Song wasn't credited with an RBI.

Song took the matter into his own hands in the sixth inning, knocking in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single to stake the Heroes to a 5-0 lead.

Song, 24, was 0-for-12 with four strikeouts as a rookie last year.

Song swung a hot bat during the preason, going 8-for-17 with two doubles in seven games, and he said early spring success helped put his mind at ease going into the regular season.

"I am far more relaxed now than I was last year, when I first made the team," Song said in his postgame press conference. "I was excited to get into the lineup from Day 1. I was just trying to keep it simple."

Song's fifth-inning double was a bloop hit, a fly ball that fell between shortstop Lee Hak-ju and left fielder Jose Pirela. Song had to wait until the next inning to get a more conventional hit.

"I battled some nerves at the plate early on, but that double lifted some pressure," Song said. "I felt more comfotable in the next inning and was able to drive in a couple of runs there."

Song is the son of KBO pitching legend Song Jin-woo, the league's all-time leader with 210 victories and 2,048 strikeouts. The junior Song said he would call his dad about his game but added with a sheepish grin, "I don't think he'll really say much."

Song said he doesn't have any statistical goal for himself.

"I just want to stay on the roster as long as I can," he said. "And whenever I get into games, I'll give my 100 percent and try not to make any mistakes."

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