Kim Byung-hyun, Guardian Angel of Boston

‘Boston wins whenever BK (Kim Byung-hyun’s nick) steps on the mound.’

Grady Little and the Boston Red Sox now have a sure-fire victory weapon. A 1.76m tall ‘Little Giant’ named Kim Byung-hyun (age 24) is their answer.

Since July 2, Kim has shift roles from starting pitcher to finishing pitcher. For 9 1/3 innings, he has recorded zero earned runs and hasn`t lost a single save for 5 consecutive games thereby making his save success rate at 100%. Unfortunately on the 8th, in the game against New York Yankees, he failed to defend his record and became a loosing pitcher. However that was due to not a fault of his own but due to an error of an outfielder when the score was tied 1-1.

With Kim`s lockdown defense, the Red Sox are trailing right behind the Yankees, the leading team in the American League West Coast. The current Red Sox’s record is 8 wins and 4 defeats. No wonder the team`s owner, Teo Epstein praises Kim as the team`s ticket to World Series.

The Boston Globe and other local media also have nothing but praises. In July 13 edition of the Boston Globe, the newspaper announced the end of a bullpen slump for the Red Sox. The newspaper said that the Red Sox has given successful defense for 15 1/3 innings without loosing a single point. Head Coach Little says, “As Kim took over the role of relief pitcher other pitchers are also getting on the right track.”

On the 13th, in the game against the Detroit Tigers, once again Kim showed off his iron-wall defense. In the end of the extended 11th inning with Boston leading by 4-2, Kim stepped up to the mound.

There were close moments when Kim allowed a hit by Eric Munson and again in the next inning. But he held on and struck-out two batters and another by second baseman defense. Now, Kim has recorded his fifth save of the season. Two consecutive saves and another four consecutive saves since the 9th Toronto Blue Jay game. With 4-2, Boston made its fifth win.

Meanwhile, Seo Jae-weong of New York Mets has recently recorded three consecutive defeats. In the game against the Phillies, he managed a ‘Quality Start (as a starting pitcher with defense for 6 innings with less than a 3 point giveaway)’ by allowing only 7 hits and one homerun (2 points) in 6 innings but failed to be a victorious pitcher. Mets lost by 2-4 and Seo ended the first half of the season with 5 wins, 5 defeats with a batting average of 3.64.

Bong Jung-geun of the Atlanta Braves allowed only a single hit with no points lost in the game against the Chicago Cubs.

Choi Hee-sup of the Cubs didn`t play in the game so the showdown between Korean players never came to fruition. The Cubs won by 7-3.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com