The Korea Herald

Pitchers Yoon Suk-min, Park Hee-soo return to action

May 6, 2013

A pair of key pitchers in the top South Korean baseball league made their season debuts over the weekend following an extensive injury layoff, trying to boost their respective teams' title aspirations.Right-hander Yoon Suk-min of the Kia Tigers made his first appearance of 2013 on Saturday and earned a victory over the Nexen Heroes in relief. Left-handed reliever Park Hee-soo of the SK Wyverns also pitched for the first time this season on Saturday and pitched again the next day, picking up his
Kia trades ex-MVP Kim Sang-hyun to SK in KBO

May 6, 2013

The Kia Tigers traded former MVP-winning outfielder Kim Sang-hyun to the SK Wyverns Monday as part of a two-on-two deal in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).The Tigers dealt Kim and left-handed reliever Jin Hae-soo in exchange for right-handers Song Eun-beom and Shin Seung-hyun.Kim and Song are the principal figures of the trade. Kim, 32, was voted league MVP in 2009 after leading the KBO with 36 home runs and 127 RBIs, while batting a career-high .315. The Tigers went on to win the Korean S
Reds defeat Cubs

May 5, 2013

CHICAGO (AP) ― The Cincinnati Reds were watching when Carlos Marmol came on to pitch the eighth inning, and they knew exactly what to do.It pays to be patient when the erratic right-hander is on the mound.Marmol walked two guys and hit another batter before he was pulled, and Cincinnati scored four times to rally for a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.“You’ve got to take what they’re giving you, and Marmol had a little tough time out there,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Our guys
Heroes storm back into first place

May 3, 2013

Almost one year to date, the Nexen Heroes are back atop the standings in the Korea Baseball Organization.The Heroes climbed to first place by defeating the Samsung Lions 4-3 in 10 innings on the road in Daegu on Thursday. The victory completed a three-game sweep of the two-time defending champs.At 16-7, the Heroes, winners of three straight, are in first place for the first time since May 25 of last year. In 2012, the Heroes won a franchise record eight consecutive games to reach first on May 23
Lynn wins 10th-straight decision

May 2, 2013

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― Fast starts are becoming routine for Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals.Lynn won his 10th straight decision, allowing one run and five hits in seven innings Wednesday to lead the Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.Lynn (5-0) struck out five and walked two, improving to 10-0 in 10 starts and one relief appearance since losing to Milwaukee on Sept. 7. He became the NL’s first five-game winner.“It’s early ― but it’s fun so far,” Lynn said.He was 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA through
KBO deals with drop in attendance

May 2, 2013

Professional baseball in South Korea isn’t about to lose its crown as the national pastime anytime soon, but recent attendance figures for the country’s top league have nonetheless been a cause for concern.On Monday this week, the Korea Baseball Organization released some not-so-rosy numbers. Through 92 games this season, the nine KBO teams were averaging about 10,380 fans per game, compared to 12,600 fans per game over the same period last year.The KBO surpassed 1 million fans for the season on
Mow ’em down

May 1, 2013

Ryu Hyun-jin strikes out 12 in 6 innings
Psy to watch Ryu’s game

Apr 30, 2013

South Korean rapper Psy will attend a Los Angeles Dodgers game on Tuesday where his compatriot, Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, will take the mound against the Colorado Rockies, the rapper’s agency said.YG Entertainment said that Psy, whose latest single chases the success of his global megahit “Gangnam Style,” will watch the game at the L.A.’s Dodger Stadium at 7 p.m. local time.This is the first time the sun-glassed South Korean will attend a Dodgers game since August 2012, when he surprised spe
Marlins beat Mets in 15 innings

Apr 30, 2013

MIAMI (AP) ― Nick Green hit a game-winning sacrifice fly and the Miami Marlins rallied for two runs in the 15th inning to beat the Mets 4-3 on Monday night, handing New York its fifth consecutive loss.Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton limped out of the game in the 10th inning with a strained right hamstring. He hit a tapper in front of the plate and clutched his leg just before crossing first base, then fell face-first to the turf.Miami trailed 3-2 when Greg Dobbs singled with one out in the 15t
Kershaw retires 18 straight in win

Apr 29, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw retired 18 consecutive batters and struck out 12 in eight dominant innings, Carl Crawford homered twice against Kyle Lohse and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 on Sunday.Kershaw (3-2) scattered four hits and didn’t walk a batter while lowering his ERA to 1.73. The 2011 Cy Young Award winner, who led the NL in ERA in each of the previous two seasons, hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last 18 starts ― the longest activ
KBO slowest to reach 1m fans in five seasons

Apr 29, 2013

The country’s top baseball league is on pace to surpass 1 million fans at the slowest rate in five years, data showed Monday.The Korea Baseball Organization said its nine clubs are expected to exceed 1 million fans for this season on Tuesday, after playing 96 games. Eight of the nine teams will begin their three-game midweek series on Tuesday.Through Sunday’s games, teams have attracted a combined 955,617 fans in 92 games, for an average of 10,387 fans per contest. The KBO hasn’t been this slow
Choo rips 4th homer in loss

Apr 28, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Washington Nationals acquired center fielder Denard Span for his ability to hit leadoff and play defense.Saturday against Cincinnati, it was his fielding that stole the show.Span made pair of impressive catches to halt Reds rallies, Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer and scored twice, and Dan Haren had his best start of the young season as the Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3.Span and Jayson Werth each had two hits for Washington, which has won the first three games of
Choo cares for team more than his personal record

Apr 27, 2013

Choo Shin-soo, Cincinnati Reds' starting center fielder and leadoff man, said Friday he was more disheartened by his team's loss than an end to his on-base streak. Choo failed to get on base in Friday's game here against the Washington Nationals at the Nationals Park, and his streak of reaching safely, dating back to Sept. 21 last year, was snapped at 35 games. Despit going 0-for-4 at the plate, however, Choo is still batting a robust .360 on the season, good for fourth in the National League
Ethier’s single lifts Dodgers over Mets

Apr 26, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) ― From his very first pitch, Ryu Hyun-Jin heard the fans cheering for him. A lot of them, anyway. Boosted by plenty of road rooters, the South Korean rookie turned in his best performance yet and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 3-2 Thursday on Andre Ethier’s tiebreaking single in the ninth inning.“I was aware there are a lot of Korean Americans here in New York,” Ryu said through a translator. “It was definitely encouragement.” A large Korean neighborhood is just
Reds win finale of homestand

Apr 25, 2013

Choo goes 2 for 4 to raise batting average to .392