Kim Byung-Hyun `Lucky Man`

Who called Kim Byung-Hyun (23, Arizona Diamondbacks) a `misfortunate pitcher`?

Overcoming the bad dream of the World Series, Kim Byung-Hyun won a pre season game.

It was a pre season home game with Chicago Cubs at Tucson Electric Park, Arizona, on 15th. He came in to pitch as the third pitcher in the top of 6th inning when the team was led by 0-5. After giving a four-balls, which was his first four-balls in this year, to Angel Echevarria, he easily closed the 6th inning: three-strikes for Kevin Orie, mid-field fly ball for Robert Machado, and third-base grounder for Luis Ordaz.

Then, beginning with Chris Donnels` double for two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, Arizona changed the game to 8-5 by adding Erubiel Durazo`s three-run home run and Danny Bautista`s two-run home run. Finally Arizona won the game by 11-7.

Therefore, Kim Byung-Hyun added a win of pre season game after the lapse of two years and transformed into a `man of fortune` that his team won all the 6 games which he pitched. In this pre season, Kim pitched 8 and 1/3 innings and allowed 7 hits and got 9 strikeouts with 1.08 ERA.

Meanwhile, Choi Hee-Seop of Chicago Cubs played in a pre season game with San Francisco Giants at Hohokam Park in Mesa and had no hit in two bats.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com