Ryu Hyun-jin hurls two-hitter in win over Angels

South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw his first complete game shutout in his Major League Baseball (MLB) career on Tuesday.At Dodger Stadium, Ryu gave up only two hits and struck out seven as the Dodgers (22-28) blanked the Los Angeles Angels (23-29) 3-0. He didn't walk a batter.Ryu improved to 6-2 in his first big league season and lowered his ERA to 2.89. He has struck out 67 and walked 22 in 71 2/3 innings.Ryu only allowed a single to Howie Kendrick in the second

May 29, 2013

Baseball body calls on reporter to resign over comment

The Korea Baseball Association claimed that KBS TV reporter Han Sung-yoon should be kicked out of the baseball circle for making a Twitter comment insulting athletes’ intelligence, regarding a “splash ceremony” on a female announcer.“Baseball players, if you guys are not educated enough to use the expression ‘I goed,’ that’s fine. But please have some basic courtesy towards female announcers,” Han tweeted in English on Sunday after Im Chang-gyu, a LG Twins player, mistakenly poured a bucket ful

May 28, 2013

Yeom finds success as Nexen manager

After a forgettable playing career as a light-hitting shortstop, Yeom Kyung-yup is enjoying a memorable first season as the manager of the Nexen Heroes. For the second year, the Heroes have charged out to first place in the month of May. Through Sunday, the Heroes were 27-13, holding a half-game lead over the two-time defending champions, Samsung Lions.Last season, the Heroes were in first place in late May but faded away badly in the second half. They ended up in sixth, two spots below the fina

May 27, 2013

Reds earn 5th-straight win

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Todd Frazier drove in a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly and a single, and the Cincinnati Reds used another big inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Saturday for their fifth straight victory.The Reds have won 13 of their last 16 games, surging to a season-high 13 games above .500 at 31-18. It’s their best start since 1995, when they reached the NL Championship Series and got swept by Atlanta.Cincinnati scored four times in the sixth off left-hander Travis Wood (4-3), extendi

May 26, 2013

Choo’s stock surges ahead of free agency

South Korean baseball player Choo Shin-soo is seeing a surge in his value in the last season of his contract with the Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds.The 31-year-old center fielder stepped up in the 2012-13 season as an elite hitter in the MLB by putting up big numbers, batting 0.300 with a team-leading nine home-runs and recording 0.449 on base percentage, the second highest in the National League. Although it is still relatively early in the season, inspired fans are hoping Choo will b

May 24, 2013

Injured pitcher Lim Chang-yong targets July return for Chicago Cubs

Lim Chang-yong, an injured South Korean pitcher who signed with the Chicago Cubs last year, is eyeing a return to action later this summer, his agent said Thursday.Lim, 36, has been rehabbing his surgically repaired right elbow in Mesa, Arizona, since February, about two months after signing a deal with the Major League Baseball club. According to his agent, Park Yoo-hyun, Lim is throwing between 50 and 70 pitches on the mound, though not at full strength.Park estimated that Lim could be ready f

May 23, 2013

Ryu, Dodgers rough up Brewers

MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly has been sharply critical of his slumping team.For at least one day, everything was all right with the embattled Dodgers.Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke drove in two runs each and Ramon Hernandez hit his first home run in the Dodgers’ 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.Even after the win, the Dodgers are last in the NL West at 19-26. Rookie Ryu Hyun-jin (5-2), given a 7-0 lead, allowed two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 1/3

May 23, 2013

Dodgers’ gamble with Ryu Hyun-jin paying off: paper

Los Angeles Dodgers’s signing of pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin is turning out to be a successful investment, according to a U.S. paper.In a recent article, the Los Angeles Times wrote that Dodgers and their scouts deserve credit for signing the South Korean.“Ryu, 26, has demonstrated a calm confidence and command on the mound,” it said, adding that he has been “fairly phenomenal” in his first ever season in the top U.S. baseball league. Ryu’s success was foretold by few, as he is the first player ever to

May 23, 2013

Darvish can’t save Rangers in 1-0 loss to Athletics

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ― Rookie right-hander Dan Straily pitched seven scoreless innings and Yoenis Cespedes homered as the Oakland Athletics won their fifth straight game, 1-0 over the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish on Tuesday night.Straily (2-2) gave up only two singles while facing 22 batters, just one over the minimum for his seven innings. He struck out five.Even with consecutive wins to start the three-game series, Oakland still trails the Rangers by 4 1/2 games in the AL West.Darvish (7-2) h

May 22, 2013

Two homers in 9th help Phillies rally

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― Freddy Galvis has a memory to cherish forever, and Cliff Lee feels a lot better because Galvis does.Galvis and Erik Kratz each homered off closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday after Lee’s baserunning mistake, rallying the Philadelphia Phillies past the Cincinnati Reds for a stunning 3-2 victory.“As soon as I hit it, it felt good,” Galvis, who never had hit a walkoff homer at any level, said. “Awesome. I think I’ll never forget it.”Braves topple Dodg

May 20, 2013

Reds power to 10-0 win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― Bronson Arroyo has these Philadelphia Phillies all figured out.Arroyo pitched five-hit ball over 7 2/3 innings, Joey Votto was 4 for 4 with a homer, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Phillies 10-0 Saturday.Arroyo (4-4) struck out six and allowed one runner to reach third in winning his third straight start against Philadelphia. He was 1-7 in his first 10 games against the Phillies, but is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in three starts against them since last Aug. 22.“This game is so funn

May 19, 2013

Choo Shin-soo’s 2 homers help Reds beat Marlins 4-0

MIAMI (AP) -- Choo Shin-soo’s first home run landed in the nightclub beyond the left-field fence, catching by surprise revelers distracted by the Miami Heat on TV.His second homer dropped into the right-field bullpen amid Marlins relievers, who saw ball coming.Clearing the hard-to-reach fence both ways, Choo went 4 for 5 Wednesday and helped the Cincinnati Reds extend their winning streak to a season-best five games by beating Miami 4-0.Mike Leake and three relievers combined on an 11-hitter for

May 16, 2013

Bailey, Reds finish off Marlins

MIAMI (AP) ― One pitch from being pulled, and one strike from victory, Homer Bailey unleashed a 97 mph fastball to finish off the Marlins.With his 125th pitch ― a career high ― Bailey completed a six-hitter and helped the Cincinnati Reds extend their winning streak to four games by beating Miami 6-2 Tuesday night.Bailey went to a full count on the final batter, Greg Dobbs, and wouldn’t have faced another, manager Dusty Baker said.“We were counting pitches in the ninth inning,” Baker said. “We we

May 15, 2013