Park chalks up first pre-season win

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Park Chan-Ho, 27, garnered his first win of the pre-season Thursday (Korean time), leading his team to an 8-5 win over the Houston Astros at Kissimmee, Florida. In his five innings on the mound, Park allowed four runs on six hits, striking out seven batters and walking one. Two earned runs came on wild pitches in the bottom of the first inning, after which Park settled down, giving up a pair of unearned runs in the third on an error by third baseman Mark Louis, who had replaced Adrian Beltre.

Park has so far pitched 13 innings in four exhibition games, his five runs allowed giving him a 3.46 Earned Run Average (ERA). Known as a fastball pitcher, Park has shown that he can also do damage with his curve and change-up, striking out a total of 19 so far, the most in the National League.

Five innings is the longest Park has gone during the pre-season. His next start is on Mar. 20 against the San Francisco Giants.

[Yonhap]