Rios’ Historic Season Continues

By Kim Tong-hyung

Staff Reporter

It seems that there are only two types of pitchers in Korean baseball _ Daniel Rios and the rest. The Doosan Bears ace gave up two runs over seven innings against the Hyundai Unicorns Sunday to become the league's first 20-game winner since the start of the new millennium.

``I thought I would be yanked after I gave up the tying run in the sixth inning. However, the manager had faith in me and gave me the opportunity to get No.20,'' said Rios, after the Bears extended its winning streak to three with a 4-2 win.

``I am not throwing any harder than last season. You can't win 20 games without the help of your teammates. We are hitting better at the plate this season and our defense has gotten better,'' he said.

The 34-year-old Miami native, who won his last six starts, could add to his win total as he is scheduled for two more starts in the regular season. Not that he needs further statistical evidence to earn the name as one of Korean baseball's all-time greats.

There shouldn't be any massive debate on who has been the league's best player this year, with Rios dominating hitters like an over-aged Little Leaguer.

If the season ended today, Rios would top the league in wins (20) and ERA (1.94) and finishing second in strikeouts (142), slightly missing the rare feat of a pitching triple crown.

The rubber-armed Rios is also valuable to his team as an innings-eater, leading the league in innings pitched with 220 1/3, while having four shutouts and six complete games, five of which he went home with the win.

The former New York Yankees flameout is only the league's third pitcher ever to pitch for more than 200 innings for three straight seasons.

``Rios works as hard as any player I have ever seen. He has improved every year since his debut in 2002,'' said Unicorns starter Chung Min-tae, the last 20-game winner before Rios after going 20-7 in the 1999 season.