Byung-hyun Gets off to Good Start in Red Sox

Byung-hyun Kim of the Boston Red Sox got off to a refreshing start yesterday.

In the opener, Byung-Hyun Kim gave up only one run on five hits and one walk over seven innings in his first start with Boston against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also recorded two strikeouts. Thus, he marked up his second win.

He last won a game on April 20, taking on St. Louis Cardinals for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His season record is 2-5 with an ERA of 3.53.

Kim`s nice pitching led to thundering batting by his teammates. The Red Sox batters scored eight while Kim remained on the mound. In this series, the Red Sox hit 16 hits, and won 11-4, ending its five-game losing streak.

Kim`s fastballs were not threatening. His excellent ball command, however, used each and every corner of the strike zone, and nullified the Pirates batters.

He was aggressive. He threw a total of 83 balls, 55 of which were strikes. He also grounded out additional 12 hitters.

Kim allowed one hit each inning up to the third, none of which, however, led to a score. He shut out the following fourth. In the fifth, when the Red Sox was leading 6-0, Kim allowed a hit, which in turn called in a runner on the third.

He shut out the following sixth and seventh, and Alan Embree took the mound in Kim`s place. Kim recorded a hit to the right in the 2nd for the Red Sox.

For now, it becomes probably that Kim may remain in the rotation even after Pedro Martinez comes back off the DL list. Red Sox manager Grady Little, however, avoided direct comments on the future of Kim, and just showed his satisfaction by saying, "He gave us everything we expected to see, and we look forward to his next game." When asked why he pulled Kim off the mound by the end of the 7th, Little answered, "He has to pitch in three days. That was why. Actually, Kim himself agreed to it." Kim will take on the Milwaukee Brewers on June 9.

On the other hand, Sun-Woo Kim of the Montreal Expoes, in his first ML debut as starter, allowed six runs on three home runs against the Anaheim Angels yesterday, and lost it. The Angels won the game 11-2.

Hee Seop Choi (Chicago Cubs) did not hit any against the Tempa Bay Devil Rays.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com