"Do you get tired quickly from the heat in Korea?"' In the beginning, perfect → A hit rate of 0.343 over 60 pitches. The first place team's worry is the ace.
Jul 10, 2024
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The KIA Tigers beat the second-place LG Twins in Jamsil on the 9th and ended the first tape of the second half. It was a good thing that Choi Hyung-woo, the oldest Mr. All-Star, showed a good batting sense by hitting a total of 17 hits, including hitting the nation's oldest grand slam.
But I couldn't just laugh. It's because of the first starter James Nail. Nail became the winning pitcher with six hits, one walk, four strikeouts, and four runs during five ⅓ innings, securing her eighth win of the season (two losses). Since winning seven games against KT Wiz on June 1, he has won in six games. KIA's ace, who tied for second with multiple wins, has good performance with second ERA (2.86) and second strikeouts (107).
However, if you look at the recent results, you will feel anxious. This is because it is different from what it looks like until May and after June.
Nail, who led KIA's early rise with four wins, no losses and an ERA of 1.47 in six games until April, continued her good trend in May with two wins and one loss and an ERA of 1.84.
However, the trend has changed since June. He suddenly deteriorated with a 1-1 record and a 4.40 ERA in five games. In July, he has one win and no loss in two games, but his ERA is even worse at 6.10.
He had six wins, one loss, and a 1.64 ERA with eight quality starts in 11 games until May, but he had only two quality starts in seven games since June, which was different with 2-1 and a 5.40 ERA.
The nails are so different in the beginning and the second half of the game. At the beginning, it definitely blocks it. Until the end of May, when the performance was good, the hit rate was 1904 until the end of May, but after the 60th ball, the hit rate increased to 304 percent, which was 2203 until the 60th ball after June, and soared to 343 after the 60th ball.
It was the same with LG at Jamsil on the 9th.
Until the fourth inning, it was simply perfect. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Moon Sung-joo took the first base due to a second baseman error. It was a perfect pitching with no hits and no four outs. Until the fourth inning, there were only 47 pitches, and the nail seemed to be able to pull it to at least the seventh inning with a 5-0 lead until the top of the fifth inning.
However, starting with Moon Bo-kyung in the bottom of the fifth inning, Nail got four hits and gave up two runs. Choi Hyung-woo's bases-loaded shot in the top of the sixth inning led by a big margin of 9-2 and allowed Moon Bo-kyung to double to the left-center in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting him on the verge of additional runs with no outs. In the end, he caught Park Dong-won with a catcher fly and was replaced by Kim Dae-yu. Six hits and four runs in five ⅓ innings. The number of pitches was only 79.
As time goes by, I have no choice but to worry that the limit number of pitches will come faster. In addition, it is now summer season. It's a situation where it's physically harder. If the ace draws a lot of innings and reduces bullpen consumption, but Nail fails to stop six innings, the bullpen may become difficult for KIA.
KIA's No. 1 race can be different depending on how nails overcome the hot summer in Korea.
indyk@sportschosun.com
