Nexen Heroes' second baseman Seo Geon-chang has recorded 196 hits so far this season, tying legendary batter Lee Jong-beom's KBO record of most hits in a season. / Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

With five days remaining until the end of this year's Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) pennant race as of Monday morning, the top three clubs to compete in the playoffs stand determined. At the same time, the fourth-placed LG Twins and fifth-placed SK Wyverns are in a tight race for the last ticket to the post-season competition.

Though the Twins' five-game winning streak ended Sunday with a loss to the sixth-placed Doosan Bears, the Twins are a step closer to the berth because wins in the two remaining games will send them to the post-season competition regardless of the Wyverns' performance.

The Bears, whose playoffs bid was shattered with a 2-15 loss to the Twins on Saturday, successfully got revenge 6-1 on the following day, providing a glimpse of hope for the Wyverns.

The Wyverns had recorded 59 wins, 63 losses and two draws as of Monday morning, following the Twins with 62 wins, 62 losses and two draws.

Since the Twins have played two more games than the Wyverns, the Wyverns have to win at least three games of the remaining four. If the Twins are defeated in both the remaining games, the Wyverns can turn the tables with three wins. The Wyverns can also overtake the Twins if the latter suffers one loss and the former secures four straight wins.

After a number of Twins and Wyverns players returned from the Incheon Asian Games, many expected that the Twins could easily secure the No. 4 spot — but the Wyverns also have turned in a solid performance, maintaining a narrow gap.

For the Wyverns, all they can hope to do is win every remaining game and wish luck to the Samsung Lions and the Lotte Giants, who will take on the Twins on Oct. 15 and 17, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Lions, the league leaders and three-time defending champs, ended their slump of five straight losses Sunday with an 8-4 win over the KIA Tigers. With two more wins in four games, the Lions will clinch the title regardless of the second-placed Nexen Heroes' performance in the remaining four games.

The Heroes are happy these days, as they are considered MVP candidates.

Second baseman Seo Geon-chang has recorded 196 hits so far this season, tying legendary batter Lee Jong-beom's KBO record of most hits in a season. Seo also shattered another record, earning the most runs in a single season with 129.

Seo's performance is astonishing given that the KBO plays only 128 games a year, as compared with 162 games for Major League Baseball and 144 games for Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Park Byung-ho is also about to enjoy the glory. The slugger is leading the KBO home-run table with 49 homers. With one more, he will become the third player to hit 50 home runs in a season in the KBO's 33-year history.

Starter Andy Van Hakken, who has secured 19 wins so far, still aims to be the first pitcher with 20 wins after Bears' Daniel Rios in 2007. Shortstop Kang Jung-ho, who set the record for most home runs and RBIs by a shortstop in a season this year, is also strong candidate, luring interest from big-league clubs.



