Choo scores first run for Texas on Korean Heritage Night

June 16, 2015
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

ARLINGTON, Texas, June 15 (Yonhap) — South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo scored the opening run for the Texas Rangers on a night celebrating his native country’s culture.

Choo went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored the Rangers’ first run in their 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

The Rangers organized their second Korean Heritage Night, with the South Korean recording artist Yangpa performing both the American and South Korean national anthems and Ahn Young-ho, head of the Korean Society of Dallas, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Dodgers also have a South Korean player in left-handed starter Ryu Hyun-jin, but he’s out for the season with a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.

Choo batted leadoff for the first time in nearly a month, with Delino DeShields on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring injury. Choo singled up the middle in his first at-bat against Carlos Frias in the first inning but was stranded.

Choo grounded out to second in the third but drew a walk to lead off the sixth and came around to score on a single by Prince Fielder.

The run broke the scoreless deadlock, and the Rangers piled on three more runs to lead 4-0.

Yasmani Grandal hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the eighth, but it turned out to be the only offense for the visitors.