(LEAD) Kim Hyun-soo delivers pinch-hit homer to lead O's victory

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 7 paras)

SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- The Baltimore Orioles outfielder Kim Hyun-soo smashed a pinch-hit, two-run homer against the Toronto Blue Jays to deliver his team's thrilling 3-2 victory.

With the Jays ahead 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning at home on Wednesday (local time), Jonathan Schoop singled with one out and pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second for the Orioles. Kim then came off the bench to pinch hit for Nolan Reimold.

The South Korean faced the Jays reliever Roberto Osuna in a nine-pitch at-bat with four foul balls. But he sent the 10th pitch, a 95 mph fastball, over the right-field wall and silenced crowds at Rogers Centre.

It was Kim's sixth home run of the season and his first homer as a pinch hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). He had his fifth against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Kim's batting average went from .302 up to .305 after his home run. He now has 21 RBIs in his rookie season.

At 86-72, Wednesday's win helped the Orioles to move within one game of the American League wild card-leading Jays.

Elsewhere, Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals collected his 100th strikeout in the big leagues against the Cincinnati Reds.

Oh was the fourth Cardinals pitcher when he took the mound in the top of the eighth with the Reds leading 2-1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He inherited a runner on third from Kevin Siegrist with one out, but the South Korean right-hander struck out swinging Steve Selsky and Tony Renda, both on a slider, to wrap up the inning.

In the ninth, Oh retired Ramon Cabrera and Ivan De Jesus Jr. However, he left the game after being hit by a line drive from Jose Peraza. The 34-year-old reportedly felt pain in his groin, but he said after the game that his injury isn't severe.

Oh lowered his ERA from 1.89 to 1.85 after the outing. The Cardinals, however, failed to produce runs and fell 2-1.

Choi Ji-man of Los Angeles, meanwhile, collected his second stolen base of the season in his team's 8-6 victory against the Oakland Athletics.

Choi entered the game as a pinch-runner for Mike Trout in the eighth and stole second base. However, he didn't have a plate appearance.

Both Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Lee Dae-ho of the Seattle Mariners didn't play on Wednesday.

kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)