Kim Byung-hyun: “I Win, Jacob Edward Peavy!”

Major-leaguer Kim Byung-hyun (28), playing for the Florida Marlins, led his team to victory in his final game of the season. It was his fourth win in seven games. He won against Jacob Peavy, a nominee for the Cy Young award. As a starter at an away game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park and spanning just over six innings, Kim allowed three base hits, two walks and gave up two runs. After earning a third win against the Chicago Cubs on May 29, this came as a victory as the seventh pitcher of the game. Up till then, he had two losses in six starts.

When the Marlins led by a score of 3-2 in the seventh inning, Kim could have pitched the entire game because he had only one strike-out in 77 pitches, and he also gave up only a double. However, Marlins manager Freddy Gonzalez called up Erasmo Ramirez from the bullpen to relieve Kim. Kim’s earned run average (ERA) improved from 5.19 to 4.94.

At the beginning of the game, Kim gave up one walk to Brian Stephen Giles and a triple with an RBI to Marcus Giles, a brother of Brian Giles. However, after the opening inning, he pitched exceptionally well, particularly in the fourth inning when his team was winning, 3-1. Kim retired Adrian Gonzalez, Mike Cameron and Khalil Greene, the Padres’ clean-up trio, in ten pitches. In the sixth inning, with six pitches, Kim’s strong pitching prevented a batter from bringing in a runner at third base.

In the seventh inning, struck out Cameron. Later, Michael Barrett drove in one run, scoring for the Padres. When the Marlins were leading by a score of 3-2, Kim was replaced by Ramirez and Justin Miller, who did not give up any more runs by the Padres.

Armando Benitez worked a scoreless eighth inning while Kevin Gregg retired the Padres in order in the ninth to maintain a winning score of 3-2. Kim Byung-hyun had three at-bats but no base hits.

uni@donga.com