Ryu blames himself after loss
Los Angeles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the first inning of their game at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Md., Sunday (KST). / AFP-Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin failed to earn his third win after his worst pitching in a Major League Baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday (KST). And the 26-year-old made no excuses.
“I really can’t make any excuses,” Ryu told reporters. “I just threw poorly.”
Ryu allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings, walking two and striking out six, as the Dodgers lost to the
Two home runs were especially bitter for the left-hander after allowing only one in his previous three matches.
“Careless throws ended up with long hits and home runs. I will be more prepared for the next game. It was a big learning experience,” Ryu said.
The Dodgers’ doubleheader opener was held after Friday’s rainout. When asked if the delayed scheduled had affected his performance, he said “no,” noting the lackluster delivery had more to do with his lack of preparation.
Ryu threw 40 fastballs out of 95 pitches, but they were not fast enough to miss the Orioles hitters’ bats. The fastest one barely touched 146 kilometers per hour, and his average stayed around 140. The straight throws coming into a strike zone became perfect targets for the Orioles’ sluggers.
In fact, J.J. Hardy’s critical two-run homer in the second inning and Nolan Reimold’s solo homer in the fourth all came from Ryu’s fastballs.
“I tried many breaking balls, but they did not sink properly. I will be more careful (throwing),” Ryu said.
Even though Ryu’s sliders and change-ups still proved to be working after striking out six in the game, his mediocre fastball speed remains as the Dodgers’ newest pitcher’s challenge to survive on the world’s largest baseball stage.
Ryu gave the catcher credit for the strike-outs but still noted that he did not “deliver it right enough.”
Nevertheless, Ryu was not the only one to blame for the defeat.
Dodgers hitters started off with a bang as Andre Ethier belted a three-run homer and Mark Ellis’ sacrifice fly in the second inning to make the score 4-0. And then, the hitters kept silent for the rest, adding only one more run in the seventh.
When asked if he had any comments for Korean fans, Ryu said, “I should have performed better. I’m sorry for the fans. I will try my best to win next time.”
Ryu is expected to be on the mound in Friday’s game against the New York Mets.