Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin celebrates mother's birthday with complete game shutout

LOS ANGELES, May 7 (Yonhap) -- In shutting out the Atlanta Braves on 93 pitches, Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin made it all look rather easy. He struck out six and walked none in the Dodgers' 9-0 win at home, while giving up four hits, three of them singles. And Ryu swore that it wasn't nearly as breezy as it may have seemed. LOS ANGELES, May 7 (Yonhap) -- In shutting out the Atlanta Braves on 93 pitches, Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean starter Ryu Hyun-jin made it all look rather easy. He struck out six and walked none in the Dodgers' 9-0 win at home, while giving up four hits, three of them singles. And Ryu swore that it wasn't nearly as breezy as it may have seemed. Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiles during a press conference at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on May 7, 2019, after throwing a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves. (Yonhap) hide caption previousnext1 of 2 "They have a great lineup, and this wasn't easy at all," said Ryu, who's 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA. "It was great that we scored some runs in the first inning, and I was able to work quickly and pitch the complete game." The victory took on extra significance because his mother was celebrating her birthday in the stands at Dodger Stadium. "This was a great gift for my mother's birthday," Ryu said. "My parents and my wife are here today. Some friends came over, too. They've been supporting me since Day 1." It was Ryu's second career shutout, and his first since May 28, 2013, against the Los Angeles Angels. He was still a big league rookie then. The 32-year-old has since gone through shoulder and elbow operations, not to mention multiple stints on the injured list. This nine-inning gem proves Ryu is fully back from the career-threatening shoulder and elbow problems that cost him the entire 2015 season and all but one game in 2016. He has now thrown at least seven innings in three consecutive starts for the first time since August 2013. Ryu was perfect through five innings, but he said it was too early in the game to start thinking about throwing a perfect game. The bid was broke by a Tyler Flowers single to begin the sixth. For the most part, Ryu was in control and the Braves didn't put a man in scoring position until Josh Donaldson hit a double with two outs in the ninth. "I think I am at a point where I can throw a strike whenever I want to," Ryu said. "This means a lot to me. For any starting pitcher, tossing a complete game shutout means he had the best day he could on the mound." For the fifth time in seven starts this year, Ryu didn't give out a free pass. For the year, he has 45 strikeouts against just two walks in 44 1/3 innings. No one has a better strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors this year. Ryu's disdain for walks is well-documented and it's something he openly discusses after each outing. "If I walk someone, it will kill whatever momentum I have," Ryu said. "Ever since I was a kid, the one thing I've heard the most often (from coaches) is that I should never walk anybody." Ryu once said he'd rather give up home runs than walks. So far this year, he has allowed more home runs (six) than walks (two), though he has kept opposing hitters in the park in his past two starts. jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)