Chan-Ho Park: 10-Wins 5 Times in a Row

Park, Chanho (28, L.A. Dodgers), `Korean Express`, has achieved 10-wins in a row for 5 years now. He appeared as a starter against the Milwaukee Brewers held in the Miller Park and pitched 6 2/3 innings with 5 hits and 1 run. His good pitching allowed the L.A. Dodgers to win the game by 3-1 and he earned 10-wins (6-losses). Park pitched 105, with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Since he became a starter in 1997, Park earned 14 wins as rookie. He continued to get 15 wins in 1998, 13 wins in 1999, 18 wins in 2000, and finally obtained 10-wins only out of 22 games so far this year.

Park, who earned his first shutout on July 19 against the Milwaukee, won two games in a row and his ERA has been lowered to 2.93 from 3.00. 6-wins against Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Brewers, who lost against Park, their `Predator`, are in a deep slump after getting the worst season record of 10-losses consecutively.

Park, who said that he changed his undershirts four times because of the hot and humid weather, commented, ``I don’t know why I’m so strong against the Milwaukee. Probably the latest good pitching against them helped me to relax.``. Although he threw a lot of fastballs on July 19, Park said that he preferred changeups due to hot weather this time.

Jim Tracy, Head coach of Dodgers, spoke well of Park, saying ``He pitched outstandingly today. If he continues to control balls excellently like today, he will become the best of the best pitchers in Major League baseball.``

Initially, Park’s pitching was not good for earning his tenth win. In the bottom of the first inning, he allowed 2 hits in a row from Belliard and Burnitz and 1 sacrifice fly from Sexson, which gave Milwaukee to 1 run first. However, after Beltre hit a tie homo run in the next inning, Park shut out the Milwaukee hitters until the fourth inning. Although he met a crisis of first and second base runners after two outs, Park finished the inning, retiring White who hit a line drive to the 2nd baseman.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers broke 1-1 tie score at the 3rd inning. Christensen hit a double to the right with 1 out and 2nd base runner , earning a run. At the 6th inning, Shawn Green, `Park’s helper’, hit a solo home run and the score became 3-1.

In the 7th inning with the score, Herges relieved Park with 2 out, 1st and 2nd base-runners. Although Herges plunked pinch-hitter Lopez with the bases loaded, he retired White who hit a ground ball to 1st baseman.

Park was not only good at pitching but also in batting. He made a sacrifice bunt in the third inning with no out and 1st base-runner, which served to win the game later. In addition, Park hit his 3rd double of the season which went over the fence in the fifth inning.

He is now scheduled to pitch in a game against Colorado Rockies at home on July 29, 5:00 AM, aiming for a third win in a row and his 11th win of the season.

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com