LA Dodger Park Chan-ho started off his first season of the millennium with a 10-4 victory against the Montreal Expos in Montreal Wednesday (KST). In his first outing this season, the Korean right-hander gave up 6 hits over as many innings, walking four batters and striking out three. Park's record in 1998 was 15-9, with a 3.71 ERA. Last year, he did not do as well, however, ending the season with a 13-11 win-loss record and a 5.23 ERA.

Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu was the starter for the Expos in what was his National League debut. Dismissing press efforts to make something of the Korean-Japanese match-up, Park pointed out to reporters that he was pitching against the Expos batting cage, not its bullpen.

In the end, it was the strong batting of the Dodgers which sewed up the game, with the team racking up a total of 17 hits during the game.

Park's next appearance is scheduled for April 10, when the Dodgers face the NY Mets in New York.

(Ko Seok-tae kost@chosun.com)