Ryu returns to form, beats Giants

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers is tied with Shelby Miller of the St. Louis Cardinals for the most wins by a rookie in the National League. [AP/NEWSIS]

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers earned his 14th win of the season with another outstanding performance in the team’s 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Another Dodger rookie sensation, Yasiel Puig, and veteran Matt Kemp led the team’s offense with solo home runs in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday in San Francisco.

With yesterday’s win, Ryu became the first Dodgers rookie pitcher to win 14 games since Ishii Kazuhisa in 2002, who finished the season 14-20 with a 4.27 ERA. If Ryu keeps his ERA under 3.00, he would be the first Dodgers rookie to win 14 games with an ERA under 3.00 since Joe Hatten in 1946. Ryu’s ERA is 2.97.

It was also Ryu’s 22nd quality start, breaking the Dodgers’ rookie record held by Hall of Famer Don Sutton, who had 21 quality starts in 1966.

Ryu had another rough start in the first inning, just like he did in his previous two games. He allowed a single by Giants’ leadoff hitter Angel Pagan, but retired the next three hitters.

The win ended his two-game losing streak in which he allowed only five runs. Ryu and Shelby Miller of St. Louis are tied for the most wins by a rookie in the National League.

Ryu allowed four hits - three singles and a home run to Tony Abreu in the fifth - over seven innings. He struck out six and allowed one walk. He also singled in the seventh inning, his 12th hit of the season.

The Dodgers’ left-hander retired 13 of his first 15 batters until Abreu’s home run, then set down eight of the next 10 before giving way to Brian Wilson.

Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly had Ryu warm up to begin the eighth before calling for Wilson. The bearded former Giants closer, who was so instrumental in the franchise’s World Series run in 2010, received a mixed response from the crowd at AT&T Park as he trotted in from the bullpen.

Facing his former club for the third time this season, Wilson retired all three batters he faced, striking out pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez looking.

Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for the Dodgers for his career-high 28th save. He struck out Pablo Sandoval with the tying run at second to end it.

Matt Cain pitched seven solid innings but took the loss after giving up home runs to Kemp and Puig. Cain, who still might make one more start this season, struck out four and walked three. He didn’t get much support at all from San Francisco’s offense. Angel Pagan singled twice for the Giants, whose only other hits came on an infield single by Cain in the fifth and a single by Buster Posey in the ninth.

The defending World Series champs, beginning their final homestand of the season, have scored only six runs in the last 49 innings.

BY KWON SANG-SOO, AP [sakwon80@joongang.co.kr]