Auspicious Signs For Kim Sun-woo

A winning pitcher in his first major start. Is the spotlight finally blazing on “ Sunny ” Kim Sun-Woo (27. Montreal Expos)?

Kim Sun-Woo earned his first win in the majors this year as he substituted for team fifth starter John Patterson, who was out due to injuries, and allowed 4 hits and 2 runs with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks in 5 innings in the match up between the Montreal Expos and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on the 3rd. It was a crisp victory since the 2002 September 29th Cincinnati Reds match up, a gap of a year and 7 months. Kim Sun Woo led the match with his specialty fastballs that went up to 150km, and received credibility as he displayed stable pitches in the last 4 innings preventing leadoff batters to get on base except the homerun he gave away to the first batter, Juan Encarnacion, in the 2nd inning.

Kim Sun-Woo was able to keep the victory with the assistance of his hitters and the bullpen after he was relieved in the 6th inning when the team turned the tide with the score 3-2. Montreal won the match 6-4. Kim Sun-Woo also hit a single in the 5th inning off starter Hideo Nomo and recorded 1 hits in 2 at bats. Nomo allowed 7 hits and 3 runs and became the losing pitcher.

Kim Sun-Woo, who has allowed no runs in his last 5 matches, 11 and 2 thirds innings, allowed 2 points and watched his ERA rise from 0.50 to 1.17.

Kim Sun-Woo joined the Boston Red Sox upon finishing his sophomore year in Korea University in 1998, and notched 2 wins, 2 losses and 3 holds alternating in the major and minor leagues. He was traded to the Expos in July 2000. Kim didn’t get a chance to step on the mound due to dissension with head coach Frank Robinson last year, but came off as a reliever this year and received recognition from the coaching staff with an average ERA within one.

Kim Sun-woo recovered stability upon his marriage last year in December and expressed satisfaction after the match as he commented, “I had the lack of control of the ball in the early part, but now I have gone through lots of games and gained confidence.”

In other action, Park Chan-ho and the Texas Rangers captured victory with starter R.A. Dickey, who was close to a shutout and allowed 4 hits and a run for his team to edge the Boston Red Sox 4-1 as the team swept the series with 3 consecutive wins against the strongest team in the American league. The losing team, the Texas Rangers, are leading the American League West Division with 16 wins and 9 losses and leads the league in winning percentage.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com