Posted May. 19, 2008 07:55,
Pitcher Park Chan-ho of the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday made his first Major League Baseball start in a year, though settling for a no decision.
Against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Park struck out three and allowed only one earned run on three hits in a 6-3 win. His earned-run average, however, slightly rose to 2.17.
Parks experience stood out from the first inning. His two-seam fastball forced Vladimir Guerrero into a double play. In the top of the second, Park allowed Garret Anderson a double but retired the next three batters.
In the third, he allowed no Angels to get on base as the Dodgers built a 4-0 lead.
The fourth inning was when things got bad for the pitcher. After getting the first batter out, Park allowed a walk and a hit. With men on first and second, he pitched the same ball that he threw against Guerrero to force the double play, and the strategy almost worked. But a bad throw by Dodgers first baseman James Loney allowed one run. The runner on third scored next.
For the game, Park threw 82 pitches, 37 of which came in the fourth.
Hong-Chih Kuo replaced Park in the fifth.
Despite his teams victory, Park got a no decision since he did not finish five innings. Dodgers manager Joe Torre later praised Parks pitching but said he had to pull him out.
Park said, It could have been better. But I did not collapse and helped my team win.
Kuo pitched four innings to get the win and reliever Takashi Sahito received credit for the save.