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Park Chan-Ho 1,000 Strikeouts, Lost In Spite Of Quality Pitching

Park Chan-Ho 1,000 Strikeouts, Lost In Spite Of Quality Pitching

Posted June. 26, 2001 19:53,   

Park Chan-Ho (28, LA Dodgers) failed to gain his ninth victory again in spite of the wonderful pitching performance.

Park took the mound in game with San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park, and pitched well for 7 innings with 10 strikeouts, 4 hits, 1 base-on-balls and 3 earned runs (ER). But as the team lost the game, Park snapped the four game winning streak and became a loser for the first time since the game with the Montreal Expos on 16th last month.

But Park reached 1,000 strikeout mark (1002 strikeouts in total) for his career by adding 10 strikeouts in this game. His record was established in the eighth year after he first made a debut in the major league.

While Park did allowed no hit with just one base-on-balls to Barry Bonds who had earned 5 home-runs and 10 RBI from Park, he gave up three hits among 4 hits which he allowed in the game to Jeff Kent (4 hits, 1 home-run and 4 RBI) who had recorded 0.121 BA against Park.

In the bottom of the first inning leading 1-0, Park walked Barry Bonds and allowed a hit to Kent. In such a critical situation, he gave up two runs by Armando Rios`s double hitting directly to the right fence.

Park allowed a single home-run to Kent in the fourth inning tied by 2-2, which became the deciding point. Park recorded 8 wins and 5 losses with 2.86 ERA.

As the Dodgers gave up two more runs in the eighth inning after Park left, it continued the fourth losing streak.

Although Park became a loser, he was spinning his 13th consecutive quality pitching with 3 ER for 7 innings, which is the best record of the major league in this season.

The `quality pitching`, one of measurements to evaluate starters` ability, refers to the

starting of more than six innings with three or less earned runs. Although it is not an official record, it is more credible record than the wins, the wining average, and ERA which are determined by the team`s ability of defense and offense.

Park will start in an away game with San Diego Padres at 11:05 am on July 1.



Zang Hwan-Soo zangpabo@donga.com