Park Jong-ho Sets the New Asian Record for Consecutive Game Hits

“The march for new records was unstoppable.”

Samsung’s Park Jong-ho, 31, finally broke the Asian record for consecutive game hits. He now looks to challenge the Major League consecutive hitting record.

Samsung and LG played at Daegu Stadium on April 15. When Park appeared at the plate with a runner on third base and no outs in the bottom of the first inning, spectators began screaming. Under pressure, LG right-handed starting pitcher, Jang Moon-seok threw two low balls inside. Park patiently waited until he received a high inside 140km/hour fastball. He swung hard and the ball soared over the pitcher, rolling into the center fielder, Lee Byoung-kyu. It marked a new Asian record of 34 consecutive game hits.

Stepping over first plate, Park responded to the cheers of spectators, holding both of his arms up. 3,400 blue balloons were raised in the stands to celebrate the hit and a message ran across the scoreboard saying, “We are proud of Park Jong-ho.”

Park broke the record that Dakahashi Yosihiko has held since 1979 when he played for Hiroshima. Park now looks to challenge Jo Dimaggio’s (New York Yankees) Major League record for hits in 56 consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Shim Jeong-soo (Hyundai) and Ma Hae-young (Kia), who suffered from injury and a slump, slammed late homers, joining in the race for the homerun king with the absence of Lee Seung-yeop. Shim hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second against Lotte, and Ma slashed a three-run homer in the third inning against SK, livening up the game.

SK’s Park Kyoung-wan hit his eighth homer with a solo homer in fourth inning, widening the gap between himself and co-second place hitters -- Oriori and Park Han-I-- each of whom have four home runs to date.

Despite their strong start this season, Lotte was defeated by Hyundai, 0-4. Lotte won four straight times but was defeated three times in a row, including shut-outs in the last two games. Hyundai’s Piery had three wins over three pitching starts, and Jo Yong-joon took the mound in the 8th, gaining his sixth save in as many appearances.