Chan-Ho`s Indomitable Spirit Toward His Ninth Victory

`five down, six up`

The bad-luck-haunted `Korean Express`, Park Chan-Ho (28, LA Dodgers), challenges his ninth victory in his sixth attempt.

The stage is the today`s home game with Milwaukee Brewers in the Dodger Stadium. This game is very crucial for the team as well as Park himself.

Park has not earned the victory over a month since his eighth win with the Anaheim Angels on 16th last month.

Especially, he snapped the record of 15th consecutive quality pitching (starting of over six innings with less than 3 runs) with the worst performance in his first outing of the second half against the Oakland Athletics on 14th, in which he recorded 7 ER for 3 and 1/3 innings.

Now, 12 or 13 games remain for Park for this season. If he loses the game with Milwaukee, it will be hard to expect his 15 wins.

Morevoer, Park`s win is crucial for the team. Only Park is left in the original starting rotation of the Dodgers since one of starters Dreifort was placed on the disabled list due to the his right elbow surgery, and further the team`s ace Kevin Brown also will be out for 4-6 weeks due to the right elbow injury.

Fortunately, the Dodgers recently swept the three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the team`s morale is very high with the four game winning streak. The Dodgers is 2.5 games behind the National League West leader, Arizona Diamondbacks.

From his career record, Park`s victory over the Milwaukee is quite within the realms of possibility.

First of all, Park has shown his iron fist in games with Milwaukee. He has maintained the undefeated march (4 wins out of seven games and 2.98 ERA) only against the Milwaukee among the Major League teams that he has faced. He shut out the Milwaukee in the opening game of this season with 5 hits and no-run for 7 innings on April 3.

Furthermore, this game will be held at his home Dodger Field. Park has shown the best pitching with 6 wins and 1 loss, and 1.92 ERA in home games this year.

Park has the advantage in that the Milwaukee has been showing the downward tendency and the opponent`s starter is not an excellent pitcher. The Milwaukee who is in the fourth place in the National League Central recently fell to the slump with the four-game losing streak. And the Milwaukee`s starter Allen Levrault (24), a 2nd-year Major Leaguer, recorded 4 wins and 3 losses, and 5.05 ERA this year.

Among the opponent`s offensive line, Park needs to be careful to Geoff Jenkins who recorded 0.412 BA (7 hits for 17), 3 homers and 4 RBI against Park, and Richie Sexson who is the team`s best hitter.

Kim Sang-Soo ssoo@donga.com