Park Chan-Ho First Shutout In This Year

``It was the best performance. No other pitcher could of pitched better than Park Chan-Ho did tonight.`` (LA Dodgers manager Jim Tracy)

``He took control over the game. If he can perfectly throw the deciding pitches, he is a better pitcher than any other pitchers in the National League.`` (Milwaukee Brewers manager Davey Lopes )

The `Korean Express` Park Chan-Ho (28.LA Dodgers) earned his 9th win, his first

shutout without a walk since his ML debut. It was a perfect game in every aspect of the game including the ball-speed, control, game management, and the number of pitch.

At a home-game against the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday at the LA Dodger Stadium, Park Chan-Ho snatched a complete-game allowing just two hits. He struck out 9 batters and did not walk a batter in 9 innings. Although it was his second career shutout after one against the San Diego Padres on September 30th last year, it was his first no-walk game among his 8 complete-games.

Park Chan-Ho, who easily retired three batters in the first inning, faced a crisis with no-out and a runner on second, due to an error committed by the left fielder Lo Duca. But, after getting his `natural enemy` Burnitz with a catcher fly-ball, he overcame the only crisis in the game by striking out two batters in a row.

Since then, he threw a flawless pitch. Against his fast balls over 150km and sinking curve balls, the Brewers batters were helpless. In particular, after Sexson’s hit toward the centerfielder in 4th inning, he showed an `untouchable pitching` performance during which 17 consecutive batters were retired without a hit. He also successfully managed the pitch count of 110 for 9 innings, 77 for strikes.

While Park Chan-Ho threw a masterful game, the Dodgers, maintaining an anxious 1-0 lead, confirmed their win by scoring 3 runs in the 7th. After one-out with base-loaded, Goodwin hit a 2 RBI single, and a sacrifice fly hit by Grudzielanek added one more run. Defeating the Brewers 5-0, the Dodgers kept carrying on their rising pace of 5 consecutive game winning streak.

By winning yesterday game, Park Chan-Ho also continued his 5 game winning streak against the Brewers, and got his 9th win in 6 games since a win against the Anaheim Angels on 16th last month. His current record is 9-6 with the ERA of even 3.00.

Park Chan-Ho, who went on the mound with his trade-mark `goatee` cleanly shaved, said, ``Due to the bad outing of the last game, I shaved my goatee for a change. I could pitch every ball to the spots I aimed.``

ssoo@donga.com