Ryu blows it in eighth but grabs first win at home over Reds

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Ryu Hyun-jin was almost perfect Tuesday, allowing none of the Cincinnati Reds to reach first base until the seventh inning.

Just when fans and, perhaps, Ryu started thinking about his throwing the 24th perfect game or contributing to the first back-to-back no-hitter in the major league’s 135-year history, Todd Frazier doubled in the bottom of the eighth. Ryu’s bullpen mate Josh Bechkett tossed a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies the previous day.

Ryu allowed two more hits.

The Dodgers beat the Reds 4-3. Ryu won his fifth victory overall and first at home this season.

The Dodgers marked a club-record of 17 consecutive innings without hits.

During seven and one-third innings, the left-hander hurled 66 strikes out of 95 pitches for seven strikeouts.

His ERA went up from 3.00 to 3.10.

Ryu didn’t hide his disappointment. He admitted that a perfect game was on his mind.

“After I gave up the first hit, I realized how difficult it is to accomplish such a great feat,” he told reporters.

“I should have been concentrating even harder after the first hit, but I wasn't able to do that,” Ryu said.

“Through seven innings, I pitched the best game of my major league career. I had great command of all my pitches, and I was feeling great.”

Ryu showed a strong start from the top first, striking out Billy Hamilton swinging with three pitches.

The Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner assisted Ryu’s perfection bid with diving stops in the first and third innings, throwing out Zack Cozart both times. Turner was playing for the injured Juan Uribe.

In the bottom of the third, Dodgers catcher Drew Butera scored on a fielding error by first baseman Frazier.

With his trademark combination of fastballs, change-ups and curves, Ryu silenced the Reds hitters, adding several grounders and flies. The Reds hit only three balls out of the infield.

Ryu cruised well until the seventh inning with teammates and Ryu himself extending the deficit to 4-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers batted for 32 minutes, during which Ryu hit and ran the bases.

Ryu chopped a grounder and Turner on the third base scored on a fumbling fielding error by shortstop Cozart.

Carl Crawford followed with a double, bringing Ryu and Dee Gorden home.

Ryu’s attempt was lost with Frazier’s leadoff double to the left-field line on a 0-1 pitch in the top of the eighth. Ryan Ludwick singled to send Frazier to the third base and Chris Heisey sacrificed with a fly to earn the Reds’ first run.

Ryu allowed one more single to Brayan Pena before replaced by Brian Wilson, leaving two runners on base.

Despite the comfortable lead, Wilson allowed a double by Billy Hamilton which brought all the inherited runners home.

After allowing a walk to Cozart, Kenley Jansen took the mound and he struck out Brandon Phillips swinging.

Jansen also worked the ninth, retiring Devin Mesoraco with two for his 15th save in 16 chances.

With the win, Ryu improved to 6-0 career starts.

No Asian major leaguers have clinched a perfect game so far. Former the Dodgers pitcher and Japanese star Hideo Nomo has the first no-hitter record after blanking Colorado 9-0 on Sept. 17, 1996, in Denver. He hit the stat again when he played for the Red Sox in 2001.