OK! BK!

`Big Unit` (Giant) Randy Johnson was very much displeased. With 118 pitches, he has continued the K-march (8 strikeouts) until the 7th inning, while the team was chased by one run. In a close 3-2 lead, he must be uneasy at yielding the mound to 22-year-old young gun Kim Byung-Hyun, who was once called as a `roller coaster`. However, whenever a dancing fast-ball was thrown from Kim`s hand, Johnson was busy sending an acclamation in the dugout.

The four-year-old young team Arizona Diamondbacks eliminated the seven consecutive playoff opponent Atlanta Braves thanks to the fabulous pitching combination of Johnson and Kim. The Arizona won the best-of-seven series 4-1 to reach the World Series for the first time in four years since the organization was established.

In NLCS game five at Turner Field, the Arizona had a good luck. In the top of the fourth inning, the tense pitching duel was broken by Mark Grace`s one-out single. Mark Grace scored by a RBI single of Danny Bautista following Matt Williams` walk. Grace felt his hamstring tighten en route to the plate, but his injury turned into a blessing later.

The Arizona allowed a game-tying homer to one-time Samsung Julio Franco in the bottom of fourth inning. After Braves` error on series MVP Craig Counsell`s grounder, a pinch hitter substituting for Grace, Erubiel Durazo smacked a two-run homer to the left field to become a hero of the decisive victory.

After Johnson allowed to Franco a RBI single again, Kim Byung-Hyun took the mound in the bottom of eighth. After he fouled out No. 5 hitter Andruw Jones, Kim Byung-Hyun captured Javy Lopez with a pop-up to the second, and pinch hitter Dave Martinez with a fly-ball to the third, in order to finish the inning.

Even in the ninth, the Atlanta was helpless against Kim`s torpedo-like pitches. After striking out Rey Sanchez, Kim allowed a base-on-balls to pinch hitter Keith Lockhart, but shut out No.1 hitter Marcus Giles. And then he retreated Franco with a pop-up to the centerfielder in order to save the team`s victory. Kim recorded three saves with a hit for scoreless 6 and 1/3 innings outing four games.

As the team clinched the National League champion, the Arizona players including Randy Johnson instantly poured into the mound to share the joy embracing Kim Byung-Hyun. The World Series game one will be held on 28th at Arizona`s home Bank One Ballpark. Kim Byung became the first Asian player playing in the World Series.

Meanwhile, in the ALCS game four, the New Yankees almost grabbed an American League champion in their hands. Bernie Williams hit a game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and rookie Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run, walkoff homer with one out in the ninth inning to boost the Yankees to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle`s closer Sasaki Kazuhiro, who had recorded 7 straight scoreless games (4 saves) from last year`s playoffs, became a loser allowing two hits and two earned runs only for 1/3 inning. Suzuki Ichiro failed to add a hit out of three bats, so that his hitting streak stopped at 8 games.

Zang Hwan-Soo zangpabo@donga.com