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Ryu Hyun-jin gets A’s

March 11, 2014

Allows just 1 run over 5 innings in preseason start against Oakland

Dodgers bullpen cough up 5 runs in 8th as the game ends in 8-8 tie

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin, from South Korea, delivers against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning of a spring exhibition baseball game, Monday, March 10, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Dodgers starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin delivers against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning of a spring exhibition baseball game, Monday, March 10, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

By Lee Kyutae

Ryu Hyun-jin wasted no time proving that he’s worthy of the No. 2 slot on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting pitching rotation. Just a day after officially being announced as the second game starter of the season opening series in Australia, he went out and pitched five effective innings against the Oakland A’s.

The 26-year old Korean left-hander took the mound on Monday against the defending American League West champion A’s, and lowered his preseason ERA from 3.00 to 2.45. In an exhibition game at the Camelback Ranch stadium in Arizona, Ryu kept the A’s off the scoreboard until Michael Taylor’s home run leading off the fifth inning. It was the only run he allowed on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Ryu started off fast by striking out the first batter he faced with his patented circle change. The A’s leadoff batter, Billy Burns went down swing. Ryu did allow a hit to Alberto Callaspo in the second inning, but retired Taylor on a comebacker and Chris Jiminez on three pitches to end the threat.

His only real mistake came in the fifth inning, as he threw a change-up right down the middle, and Taylor made sure he paid for it, smacking it over the left field wall.

Still, Ryu left with a comfortable 4-1 lead but did not get the win as the Dodgers bullpen gave up five runs in the eighth inning to allow an 8-8 tie.

Ryu is scheduled to make one more start against the Colorado Rockies on March 16th before taking the regular season mound in Australia on March 22nd.