The big game jinx of Samsung Lions pitching ace Bae Young-soo is apparently still on his back.

In Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Chiba Lotte Marines in the final of the inaugural Asian Series, Bae allowed five earned runs and a homer over four innings before being pulled in yet another of his failures in big games.

In Game 4 of last year's Korean Series, he had a perfect game going into the tenth inning. In Game 2 of this year's series, he allowed only one earned run in six and two-thirds innings.

Yet he failed to pick up the win in either game.

Since his pro debut in 2000, the 24-year-old Bae is only 2-4 in 12 Korean Series games. In last year's series, he had two losses to show for four starts.

Experts say he must develop the ability to perform in crucial moments of big games to emerge as a big-time pitcher.