Park Chan-Ho, 15 Straight Quality Pitching

Why is Park Chan-Ho (28, LA Dodgers) an `All-Star`?

Park proved his merits once again in game with the San Francisco Giants at the Dodger Stadium yesterday.

Even though he could not obtain the win, Park continued the `quality pitching` (starting of more than six innings with three or less earned runs). Park recorded 5 hits, 2 runs (1 ER) and 9 strikeouts for 8 innings with the canon-like fastball of 153 km/h and the sinking curb.

Hereby, Park achieved the 15th consecutive `quality pitching` beginning the game with Pittsburgh Pirates on April 25, one game behind the 16 game straight quality pitching of Gregg Maddux, a genius of ball control, which was recorded in 1994.

Although fans expected Park to decorate the last game before the `All-Star` break with his ninth victory, the Dodgers` offensive line-up that has not shown the favor to Park throughout the first half of the season barely hit again in the game. The Dodgers recorded 7 points per game during the 9 game winning streak, but they were baffled by a Giants` starter Ortiz, recording just 4 hits and 2 runs.

Park entered the eighth inning with a 2-1 lead before giving up a leadoff triple to Murray and allowed Aurilia a sacrifice fly to tie the game. As Al Reyes, who took the mound in the ninth, gave up a run, the Dodgers lost the game, 2-3.

In this game, a ML home-run record (70) challenger Barry Bonds failed to snap the 9 straight no-homerun game since he hit the 39th home run.

Park Chan-Ho finished the first half of the season with 8 wins and 5 losses, and 2.80 ERA, and will participate in the `All-Star` game, the festival of stars, in Seattle at 9:00 am on 11th.

Kim Sang-Soo ssoo@donga.com