It’s anybody’s ball game at season’s halfway point

The KBO League is about halfway through the season and it’s crowded at the top of the standings, with only two games separating the No. 1 Samsung Lions and No. 4 Nexen Heroes.

The Lions failed to sweep the last-place KT Wiz over the weekend with an 8-3 loss Sunday, their first ever to the KBO’s rookie club. Former Lions outfielder Oh Jeong-bok, who was traded to the Wiz on Tuesday from the NC Dinos, had four RBIs against his former team.

The Lions will start the week by visiting Mokdong Baseball Stadium in Seoul to play the Heroes, before hosting LG Twins. The Lions and the Heroes are currently league’s best offensive teams and the only two with batting averages over .290. In face-to-face meetings this season, the teams are 3-3.

The second-place Dinos will host their regional rival, the Lotte Giants, from Tuesday before going to Daejeon to face the Hanwha Eagles. The Changwon club is 4-2 against the Giants and 5-2 against the Eagles this season.

The Wiz this week will go for their first victory against the Kia Tigers on Friday at home. The Suwon club has never won against Gwangju in eight encounters.

Meanwhile, the Wiz released right-handed pitcher Phil Irwin on Saturday and will be looking for a replacement for the American.

Irwin, formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers, leaves with a 1-7 record and 8.68 ERA in 12 games.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON[joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]