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Dodgers’ Ryu Hyun-jin tosses two perfect innings in spring debut

March 13, 2015

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws against the San Diego Padres during a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

PEORIA, Arizona (Yonhap) — Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers tossed two perfect innings against the San Diego Padres on Thursday in his first appearance this spring.

Ryu needed only 30 pitches to get through six San Diego hitters at Peoria Sports Complex. He struck out two, and Sergio Santos relieved the South Korean left-hander to start the third inning.

Ryu dealt with some back pains earlier in spring training, and his start had been pushed back, making him the last among the Dodgers’ projected starters to take the mound in the Cactus League.

The third-year big leaguer showed no ill effects.

San Diego’s leadoff hitter Wil Myers lined out to short on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, with the shortstop Jimmy Rollins positioned toward the third base in a shift.

Derek Norris flew out to right, and Matt Kemp, a former Dodger who was traded to the Padres in the offseason, hit a comebacker for the final out of the first inning.

Ryu mostly threw four-seam fastballs in the opening frame. In the next inning, he came back with more sliders and changeups.

Justin Upton, another major offseason acquisition for the Padres, hit a deep fly to center to start the second, and Andre Ethier made the catch at the track. Ryu then struck out Carlos Quentin and Will Middlebrooks swinging, both on sliders, to cap off his short start.

James Shields, starter for the Padres, threw three perfect innings with five strikeouts. The Dodgers beat the Padres 1-0 on a solo shot by Joc Pederson in the top of the ninth.

Ryu said afterward he was pleased with his outing.

“I threw a bit high early on, but this wasn’t too bad given that it was my first game (this spring),” he said. “I threw another inning or so in the bullpen. Overall, this was a solid outing. I threw pretty much everything that I can throw for two innings.”

Ryu said his back issue is well behind him

“I feel just fine, and I wasn’t worried about my back at all,” he added. “I may pitch a bit longer in my next start. I should be ready in time for the regular season.”

Don Mattingly, the Dodgers’ manager, also said he wasn’t concerned about Ryu’s health because he’d completed successful bullpen sessions prior to the start.

“He always throws the ball where he wants,” he added. “You don’t worry about his location.”

Ryu went 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 26 starts last season. He went on the disabled list twice and was limited to 152 innings, compared with 192 innings in his rookie year in 2013.

Ryu has said his goal this year is to stay healthy and pitch at least 200 innings.

In his first spring training two years ago, Ryu threw 27 1/3 innings in seven appearances, going 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA. Last year, he threw 16 1/3 innings in four appearances, with a 1-0 record and a 2.20 ERA.