Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Ryu dominant as Dodgers beat Reds
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Los Angeles Dodgers starter Ryu Hyun-Jin, right, and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Choo Shin-soo shake hands after their game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday. Dodgers won 4-1. / Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Ryu earns 9th win over duel against compatriot Choo
By Jung Min-ho
The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin allowed just one run on two hits in his seven innings to earn his ninth major league win against the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 at Dodger Stadium Saturday.
In the highly anticipated Korean batter-pitcher duel - first in three years - against compatriot Choo Shin-soo, the 26-year-old southpaw (9-3) showed no hesitation and held him to no hit in three at bat, while Skip Schumaker hit a tiebreaking two-run homer to seal the deal.
“Hyun-jin ruled the match,” Choo told reporters. “Real games are often different from the ones on screen. Today’s Hyun-jin was just like that. His pitching was better than the video I saw, and his ball speed was well-managed.”
In front of 52,675 fans at the stadium, Ryu had nine strikeouts and lowered his 3.25 ERA to 3.14. It is his most strikeouts since a game against the Colorado Rockies on May 1 when he had 12.
“I’m really glad that I performed well in front of many fans today,” Ryu said.
“Before the showdown against power hitter Choo, I thought about many options. My first ball marked 92 miles an hour (148-kilometer per hour), which was probably my fastest ball against a first batter.”
Ryu threw 46 fastballs out of 109 in the game. The average fastball speed was about 149 kilometers per hour and the fastest one almost reached 153 kilometers per hour.
The victory was the second straight for his team and its eighth win in the last nine games.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Yasiel Puig walked.
Jay Bruce tied the score when he hit a home run into the right field in the second inning.
After a double to Chris Heisey in the third inning, Ryu never allowed another runner to get on base.
Meanwhile, Schumaker hit the home run in the fifth inning and added a one-out double off Alfredo Simon in the seventh and scored on an Adrian Gonzalez single.
Kenley Jansen shut out Reds batters to the end of the night to earn his 14th save.
When asked about Ryu’s performance, Choo said, “I did not experience former Major League pitcher Park Chan-ho when he was at his best (so it is difficult to compare). But I think Ryu would be the second or third top pitcher in any team.”
Ryu said his goal is to earn double-digit wins in his rookie season, which is now within reach with just one more to win.
The Ryu-Choo meeting was the 14th matchup between a Korean pitcher and a Korean batter in the majors.
The last all-Korean meeting took place in July 2010 between Choo, then with the Indians, and the retired Park Chan-ho of the New York Yankees. Choo struck out swinging against the veteran in his one at-bat.