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R-Y-U-S-P-E-C-T !

October 6, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws a pitch during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s NL Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Dilip Vishwanat, Pool)

By Lee Kyutae

No doubt about it. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin is a bonafide big-game performer.

It didn’t matter that he had not pitched in 23 days due to shoulder inflammation. He just went out and proved once again that no stage is too big for him.

On Monday night in Game 3 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), Ryu held the St. Louis Cardinals to a single run over six innings to keep his team in the game. The umpire’s inconsistent strike zone made it a difficult road game for Ryu from the beginning, but his only mistake was allowing a solo home run to Cardinals’ leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter in the third inning.

Fortunately, the Dodgers erased a 1-0 deficit in the sixth inning as Hanley Ramirez did not let Yasiel Puig’s leadoff triple go to waste. Ramirez’s two out double got Ryu off the hook.

Ryu allowed five hits and one walk while striking out four. He threw a total of 94 pitches before being replaced with Scott Elbert, who immediately surrendered two runs to put the Dodger right back in the hole.

The Dodgers are now on the verge of elimination as they lost the game 3-1.

*This article has been updated.