Kim adds first win to fresh start
Former reliever gets eight strikeouts as Rockies down Tigers
By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News
June 13, 2005

Put on notice last weekend, Byung-Hyun Kim knows his status with the Colorado Rockies has come to this: Succeed as a starter or else.

His relief efforts were mostly ineffective and often disastrous. So manager Clint Hurdle made it clear to Kim that when he was going into the rotation to replace injured Shawn Chacon, there would be no return to the bullpen.

Kim made his second consecutive effective start Sunday, working six innings as the Rockies beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3. He tied his career most with eight strikeouts, six of them swinging, and held the Tigers to two runs.

"For whatever reason, an opportunity was presented for him, and he's moving upon it," Hurdle said. "He's moved into the rotation; we've got a ways to go with Chacon."

Preston Wilson hit two solo home runs for the Rockies, the second of which came in the sixth inning, when the Rockies broke the game open with a four-run rally. That outburst featured five consecutive one-out hits, the last three by Danny Ardoin (single), pinch hitter Jorge Piedra (double) and Eddy Garabito (single) with runners in scoring position.

Kim won for the first time since Oct. 2, 2004, ending a career-most five-game losing streak. Substituting for Chacon on Tuesday, he gave up three hits and two runs in six innings and struck out seven but lost 2-1 to the Chicago White Sox.


Can't see this working long term. Kim is crap and has been ever since the 2001 WS. Never will make it back.