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Ryu Hyun-jin returns, pitches Dodgers to 7-1 win

Posted September. 02, 2014 07:44,   

한국어

Ryu Hyun-jin returned from injury and saved crisis-hit LA Dodgers.

In 18 days since hip injury on August 14, Ryu has returned to mound Monday and grasped his 14th win for the season. He took the mound as starting pitcher and led the Dodgers win 7 to 1 against the San Diego Padres as he struck out seven, allowed four hits while allowing one run. In last season, Ryu had grabbed his 14th win in 29 games, but already achieved the same result in 24 games this year. Considering that he was registered as injured list for more than a month this season, this is an ultra speed performance. Average earned run dropped to 3.18. Ryu pitched just 84 against the Padres (57 strikes).

To Ryu, Monday`s game was a burden since it was his first game after hip injury and the Dodgers was on the brink of recording three straight losses after losing the prior two games with walk-off hits. Worse yet, the game gap was narrowed to 2.5 games with rival and National League West second place San Francisco Giants.

Ryu was an adventurer. He stirred anxiety when he allowed two hits to second base at the first inning when the Dodgers was ahead 1 to 0 and allowed a tie. But no more. Ryu handled 14 hitters with poor batting confirming his image as Padres killer. When the Dodgers widened the score to 6 to 1 at the eighth inning, Manager Don Mattingly replaced Ryu with Andre Ethier as pinch hitter. Consequently, Ryu ended his two return game as winning pitcher. He had been on the injury list twice this season. Juan Uribe also returned after injury Monday hitting a double and scoring two runs.

Commentator Rick Monday for the Dodgers at radio KLAC broadcasting said on Ryu`s pitching that the curve`s breaking was very good and the Padres` hitters suffered from Ryu`s rhythmic pitching. Among the seven struck outs, five were power curves. Changeup was also effective but the biggest of Ryu`s return match pitching was curve. Ryu threw a maximum of 152 kilometers per hour, exhibiting a normal physical condition. During seven innings he allowed no four balls. "I thought he was good,” Manager Mattingly said. “First guy gets on, then it seems like he got a quick gear. By the sixth he looked a little bit tired, and in the seventh we let him know that was pretty much it. He seemed to know it.”