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Dodgers waste Ryu Hyun-jin’s gem

March 31, 2014

Ryu has yet to allow a run in 12 innings, but Dodgers lose 1-3 in San Diego

Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin, left, celebrates with catcher A.J. Ellis after getting the last out on the San Diego Padres during the first inning of an opening night baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

(Yonhap) — Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers got a no-decision despite tossing seven shutout innings against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

At Petco Park in San Diego, the South Korean left-hander overcame a shaky start and struck out seven batters while giving up just three hits. He left the game with a 1-0 lead, as he asked to be taken out.

He retired 16 batters in a row in one stretch, but the Dodgers’ bullpen imploded in the eighth, as reliever Brian Wilson gave up a game-tying solo homer to pinch hitter Seth Smith, and then a two-run single to Chris Denorfia.

The Dodgers lost 3-1.

This was Ryu’s first game of the season in the United States. On March 23 in Sydney, Australia, he kept the Arizona Diamondbacks off the scoreboard for five innings to win his season debut.

Ryu extended his scoreless streak to 12 innings.

Ryu suffered a foot injury during that first start against the Diamondbacks and had to remove a torn nail on the big right toe. He did have a rocky start against the Padres, walking the leadoff man Everth Cabrera and giving up a single to the next batter, Denorfia.

Cabrera advanced to third and Denorfia went to second when the Dodgers’ shortstop Hanley Ramirez cut off a throw by right fielder Yasiel Puig. Ryu struck out Chase Headley but walked Jedd Gyorko to load the bases.

The southpaw got out of the jam by getting Yonder Alonso to hit a comebacker to the mound, and Ryu threw home for the force at home to start the inning-ending double play.

Ryu also got into a jam in the second inning, after back-to-back singles by Tommy Medica and Will Venable. After a one-out sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, Ryu struck out Cabrera to once again escape unscathed.

Ryu settled down afterward, retiring the side in order in the next four innings.

The Dodgers opened the scoring with an RBI single by Carl Crawford in the fifth. That appeared to be enough of a cushion for the Dodgers as Ryu stymied one Padre after another with an array of pitches. Wilson spoiled Ryu’s bid for the victory, however, giving up three runs without retiring a batter in the eighth.

Ryu was 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA last season and finished fourth in the voting for the NL Rookie of the Year award. He’d pitched the previous seven seasons for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

After the game, Ryu said he was “satisfied” with all of his pitches and shrugged off the bullpen’s struggles.

“My fastball, curve, slide and changeup were working well today,” he said. “The opponent hitters were prepared well (in the first inning), but I was able to beat them afterward. The eighth inning was disappointing, but it’s just one game. I just have to get ready for my next start.”