Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin gets shutout with just 93 pitches

In the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, 47,337 baseball fans went wild. They started to give a standing ovation, with just one count left to strikeout to the end of the game. Their eyes focused on only a man who displayed perfect pitching on the mound throughout the nine innings. They gave two standing ovations, which is quite unusual and demonstrates the pitcher’s truly impressive pitching performance on the day.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin secured his fourth win of this season on Tuesday by displaying perfect pitching, recording six strikeouts, no run, and giving only four hits during the nine innings at a home game against the Atlanta Braves. It is his second “shutout” in the Major League Baseball, which he has secured for the first time in 2,170 days since the game against the Los Angeles Angles on May 29, 2013.

With Tuesday victory, Ryu has thus garnered his first win over Atlanta in the regular season, and had the joy of beating all of the teams (14 teams other than the Dodgers) in the National League at least once for the first time in six years since his 2013 debut in the Big League. The 32-year-old South Korean did not allow any walk on the day, as he continued a “walk-free” pitching spree for 30 and one third of consecutive innings. He also lowered his ERA to 2.03. He achieved a flawless victory over big-name batters of the Atlanta Braves, which ranks first in overall team batting average (0.265) in the National League.

It is the first time in three years that a Dodgers pitcher has garnered a shutout game since Clayton Kershaw pitched in the game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 24, 2016. “My parents are visiting the U.S., and my wife and many friends of mine are also here. Many people have always cheered for me,” Ryu said. “Today is my mother’s birthday, and I have given her a nice birthday present.” Ryu made an unforgettable Parents’ Day (in Korea) for his parents.

Commenting on Ryu’s pitching on the day, MLB.com commented that 93 pitches were enough to secure a shutout, adding that none of the runners advanced beyond the second base. The Los Angeles Times reported that Ryu presented relentlessly efficient pitching on the day.


Bae-Jung Kim wanted@donga.com