Samsung’s “Lion King” Lee Seung-yeop notched his 2,000th career hit on Tuesday marking another milestone for the Korean baseball player.The veteran slugger finished Tuesday’s game against the Lotte Giants at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium with a career-total 2,001 hits, making the 35-year-old the fourth Korean player to reach the mark.The Samsung Lions first baseman achieved the record over 1,962 games in 18 seasons with the Korean Baseball Organization and the Japanese Nippon Professional Basebal

BALTIMORE (AP) ― Moments before he made history with his final swing in an incredible four-homer performance, Josh Hamilton stepped to the plate in the eighth inning with a surprising sense of calm.The Texas Rangers slugger had never before hit more than two home runs in a game, and he already had three. So as he took his place in the batter’s box against Baltimore right-hander Darren O’Day, Hamilton already had a feeling of accomplishment.“I just went up like it was any other at-bat because if

Korean baseball fans will have another team to root for starting next year.The NC Dinos, the ninth club in the Korean Baseball Organization, will join the professional league in 2013, a year ahead of schedule.The KBO’s board of directors ― comprised of presidents of the current eight teams ― approved the addition in a meeting Tuesday.The Lotte Giants were the only club to oppose the proposal, according to reports.NCsoft, an online game developer, set up the NC Dinos in Changwon, South Gyeongsang

Korean baseball fans will have another team to root for starting next year.The NC Dinos, the ninth club in the Korean Baseball Organization, will join the professional league in 2013, a year ahead of schedule.The recently rebuilt home field of NC Dinos in Masan, South Korea. (Yonhap News)The KBO’s board of directors -- comprised of presidents of the current eight teams -- approved the addition in

CLEVELAND (AP) ― A glaring problem cost Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers.Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven scoreless innings and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run double after the Rangers lost an infield popup in the sun as the Cleveland Indians handed Darvish his first major league loss, 4-2 Sunday.Jason Kipnis homered off Darvish (4-1), who struck out a career-high 11 over six innings. Jimenez (3-2) walked four in the first three innings but settled down and permitted only two hits.Johnny Damon’s pop

Korean baseball players abroad had a mixed week, with sluggers hitting homeruns or recording no-hitters.Korean slugger Choo Shin-soo hit his first homer of the season, giving Cleveland the lead and ultimately a 6-3 win on Friday at its home field.The Korean outfielder also played phenomenal defense, chasing after a possible homer and making a leap for a finishing catch before slamming into the fence.Choo’s performance against defending American League Champions, the Texas Rangers, came after a 0

ANAHEIM, California (AP) ― Jered Weaver pitched the second no-hitter in the majors in less than two weeks, completely overmatching Minnesota and leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-0 win over the Twins on Wednesday night. Weaver struck out nine and walked one. The Twins never came close to getting a hit against the All-Star right-hander.Phil Humber of the Chicago White Sox threw a perfect game against Seattle on April 21.Weaver (4-0), a California native who played at Long Beach State, quickly

CHICAGO (AP) ― Gordon Beckham snapped out of a slump with three hits and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 7-2 on Tuesday.Beckham was mired in 0-for-10 slide and was batting just .153 before he belted a solo homer in the third to give Chicago a 2-1 lead on a rainy, overcast night at U.S. Cellular Field. He also singled in a run in the fifth.A.J. Pierzynski also had a solo homer for Chicago, which is 3-0 against Cleveland this season. Chris Sale (3-1) allowed one run and three hits

The Lotte Giants dominated the diamond right out of spring training and have held the top place on the field throughout the month.Their performance has definitely taken fans by surprise after a slow start last season. Adding to that, gone are star players such as slugger Lee Dae-ho, who went overseas to the Nippon Professional Baseball league after signing with the Orix Buffaloes, and pitcher Chris Bootcheck, who returned to the U.S. after a year with the team.The Busan-based club has held a ste

The Korean Baseball Organization league has been breaking attendance records over the past couple of years and this season is definitely no exception.Since the season opened on April 7, the nation’s eight stadiums have seen more than a million fans come out to enjoy one of Korea’s favorite pastimes. The professional baseball league hit the 1 million mark in just 65 games, a new record after the league hit the mark within 79 games in 1995.While baseball in the United States, the home of the game,