Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin shaky in loss to Diamondbacks

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered his sixth loss of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season on Wednesday in a shaky outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.Ryu pitched six innings and allowed 10 hits and three runs, as the Dodgers lost 4-1. The lefty didn't walk a batter and had one strikeout.The South Korean dropped to 13-6 in his rookie season, and his ERA went up from 3.02 to 3.07. He also fell to 7-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 14 starts at home.Ryu is now 1-1 in four

Sept. 12, 2013

Dodgers’ rotation best in MLB: U.S. media

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitching rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Ricky Nolasco and Ryu Hyun-jin may form the best rotation among playoff-bound teams in Major League Baseball, a baseball editor for a U.S. sports network said Wednesday.“You have two lefties, two righties, and four guys throw strikes and limit home runs. It’s clearly the best foursome going right now,” wrote David Schoenfield of ESPN.com. While the Dodgers dominance starts from their ace pitcher Kershaw, ESPN’s Schoenfi

Sept. 12, 2013

Yankees SS Jeter done for year with ankle injury

Derek Jeter began the season on the disabled list, and that is how it will end.The New York Yankees shortstop will miss the rest of the season after being placed on the disabled list Wednesday with an ankle injury.Jeter, 39, last played Saturday against Boston. He was removed for a pinch runner after hurting his left ankle , and although a CT scan was negative, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the injury will need significant time to heal.“You have to let the pain dissipate and then gi

Sept. 12, 2013

Racist online baseball cartoon causes uproar

An online cartoon depicting a Dominican baseball pitcher for a local team being chased by hooded Ku Klux Klan members has caused an uproar this week, forcing its authors to issue an apology and replace the controversial piece. A tandem of cartoonists, under the pen name Bounce Kim, published the strip on portal site Nate.com on Monday, as part of their weekly series dubbed “Fastball and Jokeball.” It showed Radhames Liz of the LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization running away from members

Sept. 10, 2013

Hanigan’s RBI double lifts Reds past Dodgers

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Jay Bruce picked a good night to solve Clayton Kershaw, and Ryan Hanigan’s big double in the ninth gave the Cincinnati Reds a sweep over the Dodgers.Bruce hit two home runs for the Reds, who went into the game in third place in the NL Central, two games behind first-place St. Louis, which beat second-place Pittsburgh earlier Sunday. Bruce had three singles off the Dodgers’ ace coming into the game.Hanigan’s RBI double in the ninth drove in Zack Cozart from first base to lift Ci

Sept. 9, 2013

Choo hits 20th homer en route to another 20-20 season

Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds hit his 20th home run of the season on Thursday, with three steals left to him posting the third “20-20” season (at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases) of his Major League Baseball career.Facing off against the Cardinals’ starting pitcher Lance Lynn, the outfielder slammed the ball into the stands in the bottom of the fourth inning for a solo homer. It was the third home run in five games for Choo, continuing his hot streak.The Reds took the game 5-4 in a

Sept. 6, 2013

At age 37, ‘Zero’ Lim finally called up to MLB

South Korean relief pitcher Lim Chang-yong was called up from the Triple-A league by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, becoming the oldest South Korean rookie ever in U.S. Major League Baseball at the age of 37.Lim, who started his career in South Korea in 1995 and has also played in the Japanese and U.S. minor leagues, said he was “nervous and excited” about pitching in the majors. “I want to see what it feels like,” said Lim, also known as “Mr. Zero” for his prowess for closing out games.The Cubs

Sept. 5, 2013

Lim Chang-yong gets called up by Cubs, becomes 14th S. Korean in MLB

Lim Chang-yong got called up from the minor league by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, becoming the 14th South Korean national to join Major League Baseball (MLB).The Cubs announced that they picked up Lim's contract from their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa and made him immediately available for the matinee against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. The Cubs went on to win the game 9-7, but Lim didn't pitch.The right-hander received No. 12 for his jersey as he made the Cubs' 40-man roster.Lim joins

Sept. 5, 2013

Hamilton, Bailey lift Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) ― The dirt-smudged base leaned on the floor in front of Billy Hamilton’s locker. An inscription in black ink noted the importance: “MLB Debut 9/3/13.”Some debut! The speedy outfielder who outran everything in the minors got his first stolen base in the majors on Tuesday night, and it decided a game with playoff implications. Hamilton swiped second and came around on Todd Frazier’s double in the seventh inning, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardin

Sept. 4, 2013

S. Korean ball club owner makes pitching debut for U.S. team

Hur Min, the owner of a South Korean independent baseball club, on Sunday made his first pitching appearance for an American independent league club.The 37-year-old entrepreneur who owns the Goyang Wonders made his debut for the Rockland Boulders in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly called the Can-Am League. Starting against the Newark Bears, Hur threw three innings and gave up five runs on five hits and four walks. He also hit two Newark batters.The game was s

Sept. 2, 2013

Choo, Reds sink Rockies

DENVER (AP) ― Brandon Phillips tripled, homered and doubled in his first three at-bats, Greg Reynolds beat his former team for his first major league win in two years, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-3 on Saturday night.Phillips scored three times, drove in two runs and just missed becoming the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since Eric Davis did it against the San Diego Padres on June 2, 1989. Phillips struck out and grounded sharply to third in his last two at-ba

Sept. 1, 2013

Dodgers beat Cubs

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― After four innings of watching Yasiel Puig, manager Don Mattingly had seen enough.The Cuban rookie was pulled from the game, and he then met with Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti behind closed doors after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Wednesday.Mattingly wasn’t willing to specify exactly why he pulled Puig for Skip Schumaker, saying only, “I felt I was going to get a better effort out of Skip.” Reds rout Cardinals 10-0 ST. LOUIS (AP) ― Jay Bruc

Aug. 29, 2013

Ballclub owner to join U.S. team as pitcher

Heo Min, the owner of the South Korean independent baseball team the Goyang Wonders, will join a North American independent league as a pitcher, the Wonders announced on Thursday.The 37-year-old entrepreneur will pitch for the Rockland Boulders in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly known as the Can-Am League, the Wonders said, calling Heo “the first South Korean knuckleballer to reach a U.S. league.” (Yonhap News)

Aug. 29, 2013

Choo hits 100th big-league homer

Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds belted his 100th career Major League Baseball home run on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals on the road.Choo hit the milestone home run off St. Louis starter Joe Kelly in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. It was his 17th long ball of this season.In his first season with the Reds, Choo has been one of the most productive outfielders and leadoff men in all of National League. Before the game against the Cards, Choo ranked second in the NL in on-base perc

Aug. 28, 2013