127 districts. The ‘foreign ace’ had no intention of leaving the mound even when the number of pitches increased. Samsung Lions foreign pitcher David Buchanan, who fought against the ‘defending champion’, was more desperate for victory than ever.
Samsung won 5-4 by 1 point in an away game against SSG Landers in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 11th. Samsung, which had two consecutive victories, became 41 wins, 1 draw, and 56 losses (0.423), and took a lead over the Hanwha Eagles by 1 li in win rate, raising its ranking from 9th to 8th.
If there was Lee Jae-Hyun’s come-from-behind solo shot in the top of the 5th inning, which gave the team a lead in the other line, and Kim Seong-Yoon and Oh Jae-Il’s multi-hit performance, the presence of starting pitcher Buchanan stood out on the mound. Buchanan, who was in charge of the starting job, recorded 9 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts and 2 runs in 6 innings, and threw a whopping 127 pitches, the most pitches in a game since his debut in the KBO (previously 119 pitches against the Daegu Doosan Bears on May 14 last year, On the 13th of last month, against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju).
From the beginning, a crisis came to Buchanan. Buchanan, who gave hits to table setters Choo Shin-soo and Kim Kang-min at the end of the first inning, dedicated the first run with a sacrifice fly after a 10-pitch game with Choi Joo-hwan. In addition, after the follow-up hitter Choi Jeong-i walked, when Park Seong-han grounded second baseman, third base runner Kim Kang-min scored an additional point. After Seong-hyun Kim’s hit, Hanyu Island was treated as a ground ball by the second baseman in the 2nd 1st and 2nd bases, and then he took a breath. The number of pitches in one inning alone reached 37.
However, Buchanan quickly found a sense of stability and ended the bottom of the second inning with a tripartite, and at the end of the third inning when lead batter Kim Kang-min got on base with a hit, he turned the center batting line leading to Choi Joo-hwan, Choi Jeong-Park Seong-han into a floating ball. At the end of the 4th inning, Kim Seong-hyun and Hanyu-seom’s consecutive hits led to a crisis of 1st and 2nd base, but Buchanan induced Cho Hyung-woo to ground the pitcher and threw the ball to 3rd base to catch the runner on 2nd base. Third baseman Ryu Ji-hyeok also quickly threw the ball to second base and even the runner on first base was out, and the 1st and 2nd bases were quickly changed to 2nd base and 1st base. It was a moment when Buchanan’s unique crisis management ability stood out.
In the top of the 4th inning, José Pirella tied the score with 2 RBI doubles, and in the 5th inning Lee Jae-Hyun’s comeback solo shot and Koo Ja-Wook’s 1 RBI double hit the batting line, and Buchanan also gained momentum. Buchanan, who overcame the crisis with three batters in a row after a hit by lead batter Choo Shin-soo at the bottom of the 5th inning, made 1st and 2nd base with Kim Seong-hyun and Hanyu Island’s hits in the bottom of the 6th inning with one out, but Kim Min-sik and Choi Ji-hoon struck out and infield fly, respectively. He turned around and ended the inning. The moment the inning ended with Choi Ji-hoon striking out, Buchanan clenched his fists and cheered wildly.
On this day, Samsung tried to keep the lead somehow for the remaining three innings, with as many as six pitchers on the mound. There was no problem until Lee Jae-ik finished the 7th inning, but the 8th inning was the biggest crisis. Kim Tae-hoon, left-hander Lee Seung-hyun, and right-hander Lee Seung-hyun could not finish the inning, and in the end, while right fielder Lee Seong-gyu was unable to catch Kim Min-sik’s ordinary fly ball at 1st and 2nd base, second base runner Kim Seong-hyun stepped on the groove and tied the score 4-4. Buchanan’s challenge for a 9-win season, which naturally met the requirements for a winning pitcher, was also postponed to the next opportunity.
At least, Jang Pil-jun, who took the mound with 2 outs and 1st and 2nd base, struck out Shin-soo Choo, and the other line took a step closer to victory as third base runner Kim Dong-jin scored again in the top of the 9th inning when Kim Hyun-joon’s shortstop grounded with 1 out and bases full. stood And in the bottom of the ninth inning, closer Oh Seung-hwan, who pitched for relief, completed the victory by blocking Kim Kang-min, Choi Ju-hwan, and Choi Jeong with 11 balls without being allowed to go on base.꽁머니사이트
Even though he did not become the winning pitcher, Buchanan was more than any other player happy after the team’s victory was confirmed. Even in the midst of the recent team atmosphere, he wanted to do his best for the team’s victory in the game he was on the mound.
Coincidentally, this was the first day that Taylor Widener, a foreign pitcher who replaced Albert Suarez, who left the team due to a calf injury, joined the Samsung squad. He could have taken a leisurely break after the pitcher change, but Buchanan helped him adapt by constantly exchanging conversations with Widener at dugout. It’s not just because all the team members and Samsung fans appreciate Buchanan. It is possible because he is showing ‘sincere’ for the team.