The Korea Herald

Ryu, Choo enjoy banner seasons

Sept 30, 2013

Two South Korean mainstays in Major League Baseball this season, pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds, established themselves as All-Star caliber big leaguers with their successful 2013 seasons.A third South Korean, pitcher Lim Chang-yong of the Chicago Cubs, got limited opportunities after joining the majors in September but could assume more responsibilities in the Cubs’ pen next season.Ryu took the loss in his final regular season
Rangers force AL wild-card tiebreaker

Sept 30, 2013

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― The Texas Rangers had to keep winning to keep playing. After seven wins in a row, they have to do it one more time to get into the playoffs.Craig Gentry had a key two-run single, Geovany Soto had a tiebreaking RBI double and a solo homer, and the Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday to force a one-game tiebreaker for the second AL wild-card spot.“They showed heart, fight, gut ― any other adjective you want to find,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said.The Ranger
Dodgers' Ryu takes loss in final regular season start

Sept 30, 2013

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers lost his final regular season start on Sunday, going just four innings against the Colorado Rockies for his shortest outing of 2013.At Dodger Stadium, Ryu gave up two earned runs on eight hits and a walk against the Rockies, as Colorado took the game 2-1. Scott Van Slyke pinch-hit for Ryu in the bottom of the fourth with the Dodgers trailing 2-0. The South Korean lefty needed 76 pitches to get through four innings.Despite one of his shakiest starts of 2013
Pirates win to wrap up wild-card home game

Sept 29, 2013

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Hundreds of Pirates fans stood, twirled their towels and chanted “Let’s Go Bucs!” as Jay Bruce hit a grounder for the final out, setting up a playoff game in Pittsburgh.Baseball, this time.Neil Walker hit two of Pittsburgh’s six homers ― its biggest power surge in six years ― and the Pirates clinched home-field advantage for the NL’s wild card playoff game by beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 Saturday.Pittsburgh will host the Reds on Tuesday night in the Pirates’ first playoff ap
Rivera makes New York farewell New York

Sept 27, 2013

Fan stabbed to death near San Francisco ballpark
NC Dinos join KBO in demanding new site for stadium

Sept 25, 2013

The NC Dinos on Wednesday joined the country’s top baseball league in demanding their home city change the site for the team’s new stadium, citing accessibility problems with the city’s original choice.The Dinos, an expansion Korea Baseball Organization club, said in a press release that they will formally ask Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, to pick a different location for the team’s new ballpark.The Dinos joined the KBO this year as the league’s ninth and newest team. They’re currently pl
Ryu Hyun-jin earns 14th win of season vs. San Francisco

Sept 25, 2013

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers earned his 14th win of the season against the San Francisco Giants on the road on Tuesday.At AT&T Park, Ryu tossed seven strong innings, giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out six. The Dodgers beat the Giants 2-1, on a pair of solo blasts by Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, as Ryu improved to 14-7 in his rookie Major League Baseball (MLB) season and lowered his ERA from 3.03 to 2.97. He now has 150 strikeouts in 188 innings. The win
KBO demands Changwon select new stadium location for team

Sept 24, 2013

The nation’s top baseball league said on Tuesday it will formally demand the home city of an expansion ball club to choose a more viable site to build a new stadium, citing lack of transparency in the original selection.The Korea Baseball Organization urged the city of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province to choose a new location for a new ballpark for the NC Dinos. The league and the city have long been at odds over Changwon’s controversial choice made earlier.The Dinos joined the KBO this yea
Choo Shin-soo enjoys third 20-20 season in home runs, steals

Sept 24, 2013

Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds picked up his 19th and 20th steals of the season at home against the New York Mets on Monday for his third career 20-20 season.With the 20th swipe, Choo joined the 20-20 club in home runs and steals for the first time in three Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons. He entered the game with 21 homers for the season but didn't add to that total against the Mets. Choo went 3-for-6 at the plate in the game and drove in two runs, including the game-winning run with
Park Byung-ho closing in on 2nd straight MVP

Sept 23, 2013

In the spirits of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, Park Byung-ho, the slugging first baseman for the Nexen Heroes, gave his fans plenty to feel thankful for last weekend, further cementing his MVP case in the process.The reigning MVP in the Korea Baseball Organization enjoyed a productive Chuseok holiday, which lasted from Wednesday to Sunday. The Heroes played four games during the long weekend, and Park, starting all four in the cleanup spot, launched three home runs and drove i
Yankees honor Rivera

Sept 23, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― Humble as ever, Mariano Rivera began his special day by paying tribute to a Hall of Famer.The New York Yankees retired Rivera’s No. 42 Sunday, and the great reliever honored Jackie Robinson during a ceremony in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.Robinson’s No. 42 was retired throughout the major leagues in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of the day the Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman broke baseball’s color barrier. Players wearing 42 at the time were grandfathered.“It is a great pleasur
Kershaw strikes out 10, Dodgers defeat Padres

Sept 22, 2013

SAN DIEGO (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 in seven dominant innings, Yasiel Puig and A.J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night.Kershaw (15-9) lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.88. He leads the NL with 224 strikeouts.Kershaw held San Diego in check on three hits after losing to the Padres in three other starts this season.The left-hander is trying to become the first pitcher to lead the majors in ERA in
Ryu goes distance but tagged with loss

Sept 17, 2013

PHOENIX (Yonhap News) ― Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered his second straight loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road on Monday, despite a strong outing.Ryu allowed two earned runs on two hits in eight solid innings and struck out four, but the Dodgers fell to the D-backs 2-1.Last Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, Ryu gave up three earned runs on 10 hits in six innings against the same Diamondbacks, taking the loss.Ryu is now 13-7 in his rookie season. His ERA went down slightly f
Choo Shin-soo reaches 100 walks for first time

Sept 16, 2013

Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds surpassed 100 walks in a season for the first time in his career in a road game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.Choo went 0-for-3 against the Brewers but had two walks to reach 101 free passes for 2013. The South Korean outfielder also stole a base and scored a run in the game, as the Reds lost 6-5.Only Joey Votto, Choo's teammate, has drawn more walks in the National League (NL) this season with 118. In the American League (AL), Mike Trout of the Los
Choo, Votto help Reds keep pace

Sept 15, 2013

MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Joey Votto contorted his body in the batter’s box as if he was trying to will his towering fly ball to stay fair as it sailed down the right field line.It did. Barely.The ball bounced off the foul pole for a two-run homer, helping the Cincinnati Reds keep pace in the NL Central race with a 7-3 victory Saturday over the Milwaukee Brewers.Maybe Votto’s drive will be the spark that gets some of the Reds’ best hitters going down the stretch of a tight pennant chase. The Reds had los