First Park-Choi Meeting Is a Hit

It might not have been a fair gauge of how well Koreans have mastered the American pastime. But Hee-Seop Choi’s second-inning at-bat against Chan Ho Park was something to watch.

Moments earlier, Park, the elder statesman among Korean players, tripped over his feet and fell as he began to run to first after hitting a ground ball. His troubles were just beginning.

Park began the second by hitting Mike Edwards with a pitch. He speared a line drive by Jayson Werth, but threw a wild pitch, gave up a run-scoring single to pitcher Brad Penny and walked Willy Aybar.

Up came a nervous Choi, who reveres Park for becoming the first Korean to break into the big leagues.

The 6-foot-5 first baseman took a mighty cut at a pitch and his bat flew out of his hands, spinning like a helicopter blade as it sailed over the Padre dugout and into the seats.

Park had Choi on the ropes with a 1-and-2 count when he hit him on the right hip, prompting Padre Manager Bruce Bochy to call for Scott Cassidy in the bullpen.

Choi, who grounded out in the first inning, had never faced Park, a 12-year veteran.

“I’ve never met him, either,” Choi said. “I watched him on TV all the time when he was a Dodger. It felt like a dream batting against him.”

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Odalis Perez would pitch out of the bullpen if he returns from the disabled list because his pitch-count limit would be too low to start.

Perez, who has been out since Aug. 18 because of a sore rib cage, has made 17 starts this season and 110 without a relief appearance in four seasons with the Dodgers.

Perez has played long toss the last several days, but Tracy said he had “no idea” when the left-hander would throw a bullpen session.

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It is unclear whether left-handed reliever Wilson Alvarez will appear in another game. He already has said he would retire after the season.

Alvarez nearly retired Aug. 4 but returned to the team and went on the disabled list three days later because of shoulder soreness.

“I know that Wilson Alvarez wants to retire from the game knowing that at the end he did it while physically participating,” Tracy said.

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Following a three-game sweep of Birmingham in the first round of the Southern League playoffs, the Jacksonville Suns, the Dodgers’ double-A affiliate, will open a best-of-five series to determine the league championship Tuesday against West Tennessee.