Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin up-and-down in 1st rehab start in 18 days

SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- Recovering from a major shoulder operation, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw three up-and-down innings in his first minor league rehab appearance in 18 days.

The South Korean left-hander gave up two runs -- one unearned -- on three hits in three innings for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Sunday (local time), as they beat the San Diego Padres affiliate Lake Elsinore Storm 5-2 in Lake Elsinore, California.

Ryu, who had been expected to go two innings, struck out three batters. He threw 46 pitches, 35 for strikes.

It was Ryu's fourth minor league start and his first since May 25, when he tossed four shutout innings for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. He had made two earlier starts for the Quakes before moving up to Triple-A. He was then scheduled to start on May 30 but was shut down after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder.

Ryu underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder last May and missed the entire 2015 season. The procedure has ended many big league careers before him. Ryu's last big league appearance was Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 6, 2014.

Against the Storm, Ryu retired the side in order in the bottom first. In the second, Ryu gave up a leadoff double to Franmil Reyes. Reyes moved to third on a flyout by Trae Santos and came to score on Luis Tejada's groundout to shortstop.

With two outs, Ryu allowed a single to Javier Guerra, and the Storm kept the inning alive thanks to an error by third baseman Edwin Rios. Felipe Blanco capitalized on the extra life with an RBI single.

Ryu had an easier time in the third. He retired the first two batters before giving up a single, but then struck out Santos swinging to end his day.

He won 14 games in each of his first two seasons of 2013 and 2014. Ryu is the first pitcher to make the jump from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to the majors via posting.

Ryu signed a six-year, US$36 million deal before the 2013 season. He is signed through 2018 but can opt out in 2017 if he pitches 750 innings combined from 2013 to 2017. He's sitting at 344 innings.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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