Kim Byung-Hyun
© AFP/Getty Images/File Jed Jacobson SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Just two months ago, Kim surrendered a two-run homer to Kosuke Fukudome of Japan in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic, helping the eventual champions eliminate the Koreans.
In 2001, Kim surrendered World Series homers to the New York Yankees on back-to-back nights to cost the Arizona Diamondbacks victories at Yankee Stadium and never saw action in the major league championship final.
Tino Martinez homered off Kim to level the score in the ninth inning and Derek Jeter homered off him to win game four and in game five Kim surrendered a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth to Scott Brosius that led to a Yankee win.
But when it came to giving up the historic blast to Bonds, there was some consolation - Kim wound up winning the game.
Kim waited through a celebration to mark Bonds becoming Major League Baseball's number two all-time career homer leader, then completed Colorado's 6-3 victory.
"I thought the game was over," Kim said. "Fans were cheering like it was the end."
Barry Bonds
© AFP/Getty Images/File Jed Jacobson Bonds' blast to right-centerfield was an end to a long watch that began when the season opened two months ago, the controversy-dogged 41-year-old outfielder finally passing Babe Ruth and moving 40 shy of Hank Aaron's all-time mark.
Kim, 27, was the 421st pitcher to allow Bonds a homer, the third Korean after teammate Kim Sun-Woo and veteran Park Chan Ho.
Just as Al Downing did with Aaron's record-setting 715th homer in 1974, Kim gave up the homer with none out and a runner on base in the fourth inning. Both were fastballs up the middle.
"He's a great hitter," Kim said. "It was a pretty good pitch - fastball, middle away."
Kim had never before allowed a hit by Bonds, who went 0-for-9 with six walks against the Korean before his 715th homer. Kim said he offered up the fastball on a 3-ball, 2-strike count because he wanted to avoid walking Bonds as he had earlier.
"I knew it was gone as soon as I heard it," Colorado catcher Miguel Ojeda said. "It's a negative record, but we were part of history. Being able to see a professional hitter like Barry Bonds is something you have to respect."
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