Choo Has 2nd Straight Multi-Hit Game

Choo Shin-soo (24. Cleveland Indians) got three hits including a two-base hit and contributed to his team’s come-from-behind victory.

He made three hits in five at bats, scored two runs and stole a base as a right fielder and batted fifth in an away game with Toronto held in the Rogers Center on September 6. The team won 7-2.

He raised his season batting average from .275 to .290 and has recorded two multi-hit games in a row. Unfortunately, he is showing the best performance (batting average .625) after being dropped out from the final entry list of his national team for the Doha Asian Games. Choo who got struck out in the second inning and hit an infield ground ball in the fourth, hit a low ball from Roy Halladay in his third at bat with two out and a runner on third base in the sixth inning and with the team leading the game 1-0, and made a two-base hit. But there was no scoring as there was no follow-up hit.

In the eighth inning, he made a chance to turn around the game. When his team losing the game 1-2 with one out and a runner on second base, he hit a ground ball toward first base and was narrowly safe after playing seesaw with Jeremy Accardo to a 3-2 count. Starting from this hit, Cleveland tied the score with an infield ground ball and Andy Marte hit a grand-slam homer with two out.

Choo’s runs were decisive. He got a hit in the ninth and stole a base, as well.

Seo Jae-weong (29. Tampa Bay) pitched well during six innings with eight hits and three runs given up (one earned run) in a home game with Minnesota, but became a losing pitcher as fielders made mistakes and his team’s bats were silent. His average earned runs were reduced to 4.96 with three victories and 10 defeats.

kimsk@donga.com