Go to contents

Another Win Almost There, but Slipped through Fingers of Chan Ho

Another Win Almost There, but Slipped through Fingers of Chan Ho

Posted April. 17, 2003 21:53,   

한국어

It was a day for South Korean big leaguers.

First of all, leading South Korean major leaguer Chan Ho Park heralded his splendid "comeback" yesterday. He pitched out a quality start, which means a starter throws more than six innings and gives up less than four ERA.

In a home game against Anaheim Angels yesterday held at the Arlington Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Chan Ho demonstrated the possibility of his successful transition to a "curve ball" pitcher with perfect ball command.

His fast balls just hovered around 148 km/hour. But he used each and every corner of the strike zone with his curve balls, and grounded out most of the batters. With "lowered speed," he struck out only two, but he allowed only one walk.

He threw a total of 73 balls, 46 of which were strikes. Taking on 21 batters, he pitched an average of 13 balls per inning, or 3.5 balls per batter.

He got off to a fortunate start, too. In the first, all three Angels hit nice balls, all of which, however, got sucked into infielders` gloves. In the second, Owens hit a one-out popout. But runner Fullmer got thrown out, failing to come back to the first with his much advance to the second. Again in fourth and sixth, Texas infielders snatched up double plays.

Chan Ho gave up two hits to each of Anderson and Fullmer, which led to one run each in 2nd and 4th. He, however, did not give more.

But Chan Ho was not able to mark up one more win, which seemed almost "there." He handed over the mound and 4-2 lead to Rangers relievers. But the mound collapsed in eighth, and gave up seven runs only in that inning. The Rangers lost the game to the Angels 8-9. But Chan Ho could brush off the instability shown earlier and regained confidence.

In the meanwhile, Hee S. Choi of Chicago Cubs hit his season 3rd homer, and advanced every time at bat in a home game against Cincinnati Reds. He recorded two RBI on one hit and one walk. Along with Sosa and Miller, he is leading the home run race among the Cubs.

The Cubs first scored three runs in the first inning on Sosa`s homer. Then, also in the first, Choi hit a one-out solo shot that just cleared the wall in right field. Officially it flew 110 m. This was Choi first homer off a ball dashing inside.

At the interview held for him, Choi said, "I got to swing fast. I changed my swing form as of yesterday. These days, pitchers throw balls inside. So, I was waiting for an inside fast ball."

Thus, Choi season average arrived at 0.276. The Cubs won 10-4 over the Reds on four homers and seven hits.



Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com