Proud Park Is Beaten

They started arriving by the busloads early Saturday afternoon. They waited at the ticket windows, rushed through the Dodger Stadium gates, and got to their seats, awaiting the moment.

When Dodger starter Chan Ho Park took the mound, they stood proudly, waving Korean flags, celebrating what they believe could be the dawning of a new era.

There must have been nearly 5,000 Korean fans among the crowd of 41,099 to witness Park’s first start of the season, but while the result was a 3-1 victory by the Pittsburgh Pirates, it hardly diminished their vigor and passion.

“I feel honored,” Park said. “I represent not only the Dodgers, but my country.

“I feel so bad because we lose, but I think I pitched all right.”

After a shaky start, Park yielded seven hits and three runs in six innings without a walk. He will go to the bullpen today until the Dodgers need a fifth starter again April 30, but he will return to the rotation.

“Chan Ho is our fifth starter,” Manager Bill Russell said. “I thought he threw the ball well. He had much better control after the first inning, more confidence.”

It was hardly a historic debut for Park. He had already made 11 starts since joining the Dodgers in 1994, but this time was different.

“You just see it, step-by-step, the maturity coming,” pitching coach Dave Wallace said. “There will be growing pains, but you can see how he understands how to pitch so much better.

“He’s not just throwing the ball over the plate anymore. He can throw it up and in, down and away, anything you want.”

Park’s primary trouble this night simply was gathering his composure at the start. He vowed that he wouldn’t be nervous, but after seeing the Korean fans, the newspaper reporters and TV stations that were televising the game live back home, he realized it was impossible.

The first batter he faced, Tony Womack, battled nine pitches before lining a single to left field. Park fell behind 2-and-0 to the next batter, Jermaine Allensworth, who then hit a fastball into the Dodger bullpen.

Al Martin continued the onslaught by hitting a single to center and catcher Mike Piazza rushed to the mound to console his pitcher.

Park settled down, retired 13 of the next 15 hitters, and proved why the Dodgers selected him to be their fifth starter over veteran knuckleballer Tom Candiotti, who came into the game in relief of Park.

“It’s just one those things being a kid,” Dodger center fielder Brett Butler said. “He got pretty excited out there. But once he settled down, he showed his poise and threw the ball extremely well.”

Pirate starter Francisco Cordova, primarily a reliever for four years in Mexico City before signing last year with the Pirates, kept the Dodgers off-balance during his seven-inning stint. The Dodgers’ No. 2 to No. 6 batters in the lineup went one for 20. Cordova yielded only six hits, and the Dodgers’ lone run was courtesy of Park.

Park singled with one out in the third inning. Butler followed with a single to center, advancing Park to third. Cordova got rookie Wilton Guerrero to ground to second, but Butler avoided the tag by Womack, allowing Park to score, cutting the lead to 2-1.

The Pirates made it 3-1 in the fifth. Womack reached with a perfect one-out bunt. Allensworth slapped a single to center, advancing Womack to third. Park then got Martin to hit a soft dribbler to the mound. Park had a play at the plate, but he tried for the double play. Shortstop Greg Gagne had no chance to turn it and Womack scored.