Not so long ago, Byung-Hyun Kim was something of a mystery to his own team.
Now, comfortable and happy in a Rockies uniform, he’s evolving into a central character in a solid starting rotation. What’s more, the Korean-born, side-winding right-hander has suddenly become a Rubik’s Cube for opposing hitters.
Case in point: Texas Rangers leadoff hitter Gary Matthews Jr. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout against Kim in the Rockies’ 3-0 victory Sunday at Coors Field.
After whiffing in the fifth, Matthews trudged back to the dugout and threw his batting helmet and bat into the Rangers dugout.
His Texas teammates’ reactions weren’t quite as radical – a shake of the head here, slumped shoulders there – but it was clear that Kim (5-4) was a riddle they couldn’t solve.
Kim threw seven innings without allowing a run Sunday, the longest scoreless outing of his career. It provided the perfect encore to the six scoreless innings he had Monday night in Colorado’s 7-0 whitewash of the Oakland A’s.
The Rockies backed Kim up with just seven hits, but those included three runs, which was more than enough. Back-to-back triples down the right-field line by Jamey Carroll and Cory Sullivan in the fifth provided the Rockies’ third run and the game’s only offensive fireworks.
Kim defused a Texas attack that entered the game ranked fourth in the American League with a .285 team batting average. Not counting a high school game in which he struck out 12 batters in five innings, Kim admitted that his past two starts were “probably the best I have pitched.”
With his funky, nearly submarine delivery, a wicked slider and a fastball consistently clocking in the low 90s, Kim baffled the Rangers.
“The first time through the order, (Kim’s delivery) was an issue,” Texas shortstop Michael Young said. “We haven’t seen anything like that all year. But after that, he just made good pitches, and his delivery wasn’t an issue. He didn’t give me one ball to drive all game.”
Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba sensed the Rangers’ frustration.
“When a guy is throwing from down there 90 mph with a great slider like he has, guys don’t know what to do,” Torrealba said. “Guys don’t see that every day.”
Kim gave up just five hits, struck out seven and walked two. He looked liked the pitcher the Rockies were hoping for when they broke spring training.
“I think the key is that the longer B.K. has been with us, the more comfortable he’s become with the players and the staff,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. “He’s much more coachable. I’m not saying he wasn’t coachable before, but he’s been listening more, he’s taking advice, he’s even taking constructive criticism. These are all areas that have allowed him to grow.”
When Kim’s pitches float up over the plate and his slider spins in place, as they did when he was blasted for eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in Washington two weeks ago, he’s very hittable. But when he keeps the ball low and away, while occasionally busting inside on right-handed batters, he’s capable of dominating.
“He’s a better pitcher now than he was a year ago when he first joined us,” Apodaca said. “He’s consistently in the 90s now, and he can consistently throw the ball by hitters. So now he has more margin for error.”
Staff writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
Byung-Hyun Kim’s past two starts
SUNDAY | Beat Texas 3-0
IP H R ER BB SO
7 5 0 0 2 7
JUNE 19 | Beat Oakland 7-0
IP H R ER BB SO
6 4 0 0 3 5
