Dodger pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu gets one of three hits against D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy on Saturday.
I’ll bet Matt Kemp is looking at Hyun-Jin Ryu right about now and thinking, “I’ll have what he’s having.”
In a 14-hit game, you expect one or two of the players to have multiple hits, right? But a rookie pitcher from Korea who has only been batting for two weeks? Give me a break. Ryu not only pitched well, got the win and struck out nine, he also got three hits — including a double — off Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy.
Matt Kemp led the league this time last year in all major batting categories.
A year ago, Kemp was leading the league in all major batting categories. Granted the season is only two weeks old, and he had surgery on his shoulder in the off-season, but he is really getting a slow start and striking out a lot. His batting average is .190, he hasn’t yet gone yard, and he has only 4 RBI. I’m sure he’ll come around, but in the meantime, it makes it just that much harder for the Dodgers to win games. He has stranded more men than Fletcher Christian.
As for Ryu, I heard Charlie Steiner razzing Chad Billingsley about Clayton Kershaw — who hit a home run on opening day — now being a better hitting pitcher than Bills is. Well, step aside, boys. That title on the Dodgers now belongs to Ryu.
Piewalla's Dodger Blues 