Texas Rangers’ Choo shines in his first Major League All-Star game

Texas Rangers' South Korean veteran Choo Shin-soo has shined in his first Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game.

Choo hit 1-for-2 with a run scored for the American League in an 8-6 victory over the National League at Nationals Park in Washington on Tuesday, continuing his excellent condition shown in the first half of this season. Choo finished the first half with a 51-game on-base streak.

Leading off the top eighth as a replacement of Nelson Cruz (Seattle Mariners), lined a single to left field off Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Josh Hader, who hurled a 97 miles-per-hour fastball with two balls and two strikes. Shaken up by the hit, Hader gave another single to George Springer (Houston Astros), before allowing Seattle’s Jean Segura a three-run home run, which broke a 2-2 deadlock.

The American League beat the National League 8-6 for its sixth straight win, led by Astros teammates Alex Bregman’s and George Springer’s homers on consecutive pitches to begin the 10th inning. Choo, who could have had the winning score had the American League allowed a tying run in the bottom ninth, also rejoiced over the victory, doing high-fives with his teammates. “I faced the best pitchers and hitters every inning,” he said. “It was a great experience talking with them and learning from them.”


Bae-Jung Kim wanted@donga.com