(LEAD) Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan picks up 2 saves in one day

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SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals picked up two saves in one day with two perfect innings of work.

The South Korean reliever shut down the San Diego Padres in both games of the doubleheader at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Wednesday (local time). The right-hander became the first Cardinals pitcher since Jason Isringhausen in August 2004 to save two games in one day.

Oh, a former star closer in South Korea and Japan, is now 4-for-4 in save opportunities since taking over from struggling former All-Star closer Trevor Rosenthal.

In the first game of the twin bill, Oh made his first appearance since last Friday, when he suffered his first major league loss.

Oh relieved Kevin Siegrist to start the ninth, with the Cards holding on to a 4-2 lead and the heart of the Padres' lineup due up. Wil Myers, the No. 3 hitter, grounded out to second on an 83 mph slider. Oh then struck out Yangervis Solarte swinging on a 1-2 changeup.

Oh capped off his perfect day by striking out Melvin Upton Jr., this time with a slider on a 2-2 count.

In the second game, Oh took the mound with a 3-2 lead, again relieving Siegrist. He got Alexi Amarista to fly out to center, and then struck out Alexei Ramirez and Ryan Schimpf, both on four-seam fastballs, to cap off his perfect day.

He lowered his ERA from 1.75 to 1.68.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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