Indians` Choo Nears 20 Homers, Steals for Season

Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians needs just one homer to get 20 homeruns and 20 steals for the season.

The lone Korean batter in Major League Baseball of the U.S., he went 2-4 including a solo homer yesterday in a 6-1 home loss to the Chicago White Sox. He started at left field and third in the batting lineup.

Choo, 27, hit his 17th homer of the season against the Detroit Tigers Friday, 18th against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, and 19th yesterday. He has six games to hit No. 20.

He is also hitting .303 for the season, and could become the only American League player to finish with 20 homers and 20 steals while hitting .300. He stole second base against the Orioles Saturday for his 20th steal of the season.

Against the White Sox yesterday, he hit his 19th homer over the right fence off a fastball from Chicago starting pitcher John Danks in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Cleveland trailing 3-0.

Choo also hit his 38th double of the season in the fourth, and raised his batting average from .301 to .303, along with 83 RBIs.

wing@donga.com