Choo’s Timely Hit Brings Victory to Indians

Choo Shin-soo (25, Cleveland Indians) won some trust from his manager Eric Wedge with a timely hit in his first game in the Major Leagues this season.

Choo started against Minnesota on April 24 as the eighth hitter and left fielder. In the 12th inning, he drove in two runs with a hit to center field. Cleveland won, 7-3.

After transferring from Seattle to Cleveland midway through last season, Choo played 50 games in the minors. He was summoned to the majors when infielder Andy Marté was put on the 15-day disabled list after picking up an injury on his thigh.

While playing for the Indians’ AAA affiliate Buffalo Bisons, Choo kept a batting average of .294. But he struck out in the second, eighth, and tenth innings, and hit a soft grounder in the fourth. In the 12th inning, however, he managed to seize a crucial opportunity with the bases loaded with no outs, easing concerns and doubts cast on his competence.

According to Choo’s updated stats after the game, he has played 60 games since his debut in the Major Leagues in 2005 and has an overall career batting average of .256 and 25 RBIs.

Baek Cha-seung (27), Choo’s Busan High School senior affiliated with the Seattle Mariners, pitched in his first major league game this season, but ended up with no wins or losses. Starting in an away match against Texas, Baek threw for four and one-third innings and gave up eight hits, including one home run, two bases-on-balls, and four runs. He stepped off the mound in the fifth inning with one out and runners on the first and second base. Seattle defeated the Rangers 5-4.

Among Baek’s six career major-league wins thus far, three were gained from Texas. As usual, Baek cruised smoothly through the third inning, allowing no runs and only two bases-on-balls. However, he began to crumble in the fourth inning after Sammy Sosa’s single followed by Hank Blalock’s two-run homer. His ERA increased to 8.31.

Meanwhile, New York Yankees’ cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez (32) sent two home runs over the fence in an away match against Tampa Bay, solidifying his league lead in this field. Since opening day, he has produced 14 home runs, matching Albert Pujols’s (Saint Louis) record for the most home runs in April that was set last year.

Rodriguez collected four hits (including a solo homer and a two-run home run) and three RBIs in five at bats, enhancing his batting average to .400, taking lead in this category as well. His brilliance, however, was diminished by the Yankees’s 8-10 defeat to the Devil Rays.

jeon@donga.com