Chan-Ho Clenched His Teeth

As Park Chan-Ho (28, LA Dodgers) became a loser allowing 4 runs for five innings in game with New York Mets on 20th, LA Dodgers Manager Jim Tracy publicly attacked Park in an interview, saying that ``as a team`s ace, Park lost his fighting spirit.`` And then the newspapers in Los Angeles concentrated on raising doubts about Park`s ability, calling it the `Cracking Chan-Ho`.

However, Park showed his spirit and enthusiasm to win for manager Tracy as well as his teammates in an away game with Atlanta Braves, the NL East leader, at the Turner Field in Atlanta on 25th. As he earned his twelfth victory (9 losses) throwing a complete game with 5 hits and 1 ER, Park swept off all the blame that have been poured onto him. It was his first win in 5 games and 27days since the game with Colorado Rockies on 29th last month.

Two scenes in which Park showed his fighting spirit;

▼At the bottom of ninth leading 4-1 with two out and runners on first and second

In a strained situation in which he may blow out a win with a homer, manager Jim Tracy went up to the mound. Definitely, he went to the mound to change the pitcher. But Park stared at Tracy. It was a `silent protest`, expressing his volition to throw more. Tracy said ``I went to the mound and when I looked him in the eye, he was looking at me just as sternly right back. My question to him was, `Do you have enough left to get this guy right here?` He definitively told me yes.`` Manager Tracy, who felt the adamant will of Park, could not help but to go back to the dugout.

Park`s teammate Shawn Green told after the game that ``I was so surprised to see the manager coming back to the dugout without changing the pitcher. I`ve never seen him returned to the dugout while the pitcher remained.``

▼ At the bottom of ninth with two out and a runner on first

Park threw an astonishing wild pitch over the catcher`s head while facing a sixth hitter Chipper Jones after two strikes. It proved that his physical strength was exhausted, throwing over 110 pitches under the sweltering heat over 30 degree. However, Park pitched with all his might, shouting at himself.

``He was trying to throw 100 miles per hour there at the end.`` said the Braves` fourth hitter Brian Jordan, who was amazed at Park`s pitching. ``That shows me a lot. It shows me that he wants to win.`` Recently, Park had a trouble with the lowered velocity of his fast ball, but Park faced the opponents with 151km fast balls even in the ninth.

Kim Sang-Soo ssoo@donga.com