Kim Byung-Hyun, ``How Can This Be . . . ``

It feels so empty.

November 1 (Korea time), game 4 of the World Series opens at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The first Asian in baseball history to play in the World Series, `nuclear submarine` Kim Byung-Hyun`s (22 Arizona Diamondbacks) spirit reached the skies up to the bottom of the 9th.

Kim Byung-Hyun stepped onto the mound as the youngest player on either team after starting pitcher Kurt Schilling led the team with 3-1 in the 8th inning. Beginning with Shane Spencer, who hit a homerun in the bottom of the 3rd inning to put the Yankees on the lead, followed by Scott Brosius, Alfonso Soriano, the Yankees right-handed hitters continually missed Kim Byung-Hyun`s dancing drop ball and the fast ball the shot up from below. Three hitters successively struck out.

Kim Byung-Hyun`s stance in the 9th remained calm and confident. Watching the Yankee right-handed hitters quickly falling apart, Derek Jeter attempted a surprise attack bunt in the first hit, but struck out by third base. Paul O`Neill hit one left field but fouled the ball while Bernie Williams suffered the humiliation of getting struck out three times in a row.

But may be it was too good to be true. With just one hit away from the win, two outs and first base loaded, Kim Byung-Hyun`s first pitch swerved slightly to the outside but was in the end a straight fast ball. Number four hitter Tino Martinez did not miss the opportunity and hit the ball with a full swing, all the way over the middle wall, and scored two points. The strong wind that blew toward the home plate fence in the 9th inning was an ominous sign for Kim Byung-Hyun.

Kim Byung-Hyun continued with four balls to Jorge Posada, while David Justice took the base due to second base player`s mistake. Two outs, first and second bases loaded, but Spencer struck out and the game went to overtime. In the top of the tenth, theYankees put the best finisher on the list, Mariano Rivera and finished off the inning with three infield balls. Kim Byung-Hyun returned to the mound.

Although Kim appeared to have steadied himself, it appeared the 45 pitches against 10 hitters in the two innings were taking its toll on his arm and Kim`s pitches were not as strong as in the eighth inning. Brosius and Soriano both made a hit but struck out. Jeters finally hit four balls and sent one ball over the right fence, finishing the tenth with a homerun win.

The Yankees are now 2-2 and leveled the field after four games out of the seven in the World Series. Kim Byung-Hyun has played in five games in the postseason, with four base hits and three points in nine innings, recording 3.00 in average earned run.

The fifth game of the series with Arizona`s fourth pick Miguel Batista, and Yankees` first pick Mike Mussina will begin on November 2, 10 am.

zangpabo@donga.com