Kim Byung-hyun, “Bullpen Blows Third Win ”

It was not your routine game on display.

In the midst of an array of rare moments and plays, a win for Kim came within a grasp, only to have just missed it in a tight game.

Kim Byung-hyun, starting for the first time since the All-Star break, went up against the Washington Nationals on July 19.

In the second inning, with the Rockies trailing 1-2 with no outs and a runner on first, Kim intentionally let a popup bunt by Washington’s Christian Guzman fall to the ground so that he could start a first baseman-shortstop double play. Kim’s wit stood out.

In the fourth inning with one out and runners on first and second, Kim, with only himself to blame, made an error in fielding Joey Eischen’s sacrifice bunt and found the bases loaded. On Brad Wilkerson’s at-bat, Kim hurled a pitch behind the batter, but the ball bounced back hard enough off the backstop for catcher Danny Ardoin to catch it and pick off Brian Schneider at third base. As a result, Kim dramatically saved himself from a crisis.

After a series of ups and downs, a third win for Kim seemed imminent, at least until he handed the mound over to Mike DeJean in the seventh inning, with the Rockies leading 4-2. However, the score quickly became tied 4-4 as the bullpen lost its control with fielding errors to worsen the situation, denying Kim a win.

Nevertheless, he was able to establish himself with the coaching staff once again through his fourth quality start (an outing longer than six innings while allowing less than three runs), pitching a strong six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walking three, and striking out three. Kim lowered his ERA from 5.46 to 5.25, while recording an unchanged two wins and seven losses this season. As a starter, Kim has two wins and four losses with a 4.13 ERA. The Rockies eventually won the game, 5-4.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com