It wasn’t like a ‘big game feature’. KT Wiz ace William Cuevas collapsed early on, conceding an unexpectedly large number of goals.
KT appointed Cuevas as the starting pitcher in the first game of the playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5) against NC Dinos held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 30th. It was natural. Cuevas, who returned as Bo Schulser’s replacement in June of this year, recorded 12 wins, no losses, and an ERA of 2.60 in 18 games, becoming the winning percentage leader.
Above all, Cuevas was strong in big games. In the 2021 first-place match against the Samsung Lions, he pitched 7 scoreless innings and led the team directly to the Korean Series (KS). It was a fight that took place after only two days of rest after starting the regular season. In the first game of KS against the Doosan Bears, he allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings, contributing to the overall victory.메이저놀이터
However, the fall baseball stage again after two years was different. Cuevas gave up a missed hit to leadoff hitter Son A-seop in the first inning and a double to Park Min-woo in the second inning. He took a breather by striking out Park Geon-woo, but eventually gave Jason Martin the first run by giving him a sacrifice fly. In the second inning, he was hit with a solo shot by Oh Young-soo. The ball thrown was high for 3 balls and 2 strikes, and it became a home run.
He didn’t even follow his luck. In the top of the third inning, third baseman Hwang Jae-gyun’s error sent out Park Min-woo, and Park Geon-woo hit a double to the left field line. While the broadcasting process was not clean, Park Min-woo went around second and third base and came home. In the ensuing attack, he gave up a timely hit to Kwon Hee-dong, allowing the 4th point.
Moon Sang-cheol’s home run made it 1-4, but the score gap widened again. Kim Hyeong-jun was sent out with a walk, and Cuevas made a throwing error during Kim Joo-won’s sacrifice bunt. He caught it quickly and sprinkled it to second base, making it appear as if he was out, but the throw was short and bounced once, sending it backwards. Son Ah-seop even threw a wild pitch at the plate.
In the end, Cuevas, who received a timely hit from Son Ah-seop, passed the mound to Eom Sang-baek and went down. As Eom Sang-baek allowed the successor to score, Cuevas’ final record was 7 runs (4 earned), 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 walks in 3 innings. KT’s game plan went awry as Kwon Hee-dong’s two-RBI double widened the lead to seven points, 1-8.