"Isn’t this an opportunity to start over?"

Nail started as a pitcher on the 9th at the Busan Sajik Stadium against the Lotte Giants, delivering 7 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, striking out 6, and giving up 1 earned run, leading the team to a 3-1 victory. This marked his second win of the season.

Nail had been on a scoreless streak in three earlier games this season. On March 22 against NC, he went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 walk with no earned runs; on the 28th against Hanwha, he went 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 5, with no earned runs; and on the 3rd against Samsung, he went 7 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, and striking out 2, finishing as the winning pitcher.

However, he showed signs of anxiety starting in the 1st inning. After a walk to Go Seung-min with one out, he struck out Reyes but then walked Jeon Jun-woo, putting him in a 2-out, 1st and 2nd base crisis. However, he managed to get Kim Min-seok out with a liner to the shortstop to escape the 1st inning.

In the 2nd inning, he gave up a single to lead-off hitter Na Seung-yeop, but he turned Jeong Hoon into a double play and got Jeong Bo-geun to ground out to the pitcher to finish the inning with 3 batters.

Eventually, he gave up a run in the 3rd inning. He surrendered a bloop hit in front of the right fielder to lead-off batter Jeon Min-jae. Although he induced Hwang Seong-bin into a groundout to the shortstop, he only managed to get the lead runner at 1st base. Afterward, he allowed Go Seung-min a single, putting runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, and while he induced Reyes into a groundout to the second baseman, he only managed to get the lead runner, allowing the runner at 3rd base to score.

As a result, Nail's scoreless inning streak that began on Aug. 13 against Kiwoom was ended at 36 innings. The all-time record is 44 innings of scoreless pitching held by his team senior Seo Jae-eung (currently NC's pitching coach).

Additionally, this run was also his first earned run of the season. However, afterward, Nail regrouped. He allowed only 2 hits through the 7th inning and shut down the Lotte lineup with strong performances from Kwak Do-kyu, Jo Sang-woo, and Jeong Hae-young, maintaining a 2-run lead.

On that day, Nail threw a total of 92 pitches, including 43 two-seam fastballs reaching a maximum speed of 151 km/h, 28 sweepers, 10 changeups, 7 cutters, 2 curves, and 2 four-seam fastballs.

After the game, Nail said, "In the early stages of today’s game, I was nervous to the point where my control was off. However, I adapted well as the game progressed," adding, "What impressed me today was that I achieved all the outs using all of my pitches. Additionally, I was pleased to get outs with the slow curve that I hadn’t been throwing well."

He was not concerned with the end of his scoreless innings streak and saw it as an opportunity to challenge the record once again. He noted, "I tried not to think about the scoreless inning streak. But just the fact that I allowed a run today didn’t sit well with me," yet added, "There were many pitches today that went extraordinarily well, so I’m not worried. And records are something you can start over again, right?" with a smile.

He continued, "In fact, I wasn’t aware of it until the reporters told me after my appearance against Samsung," emphasizing, "Regardless of the outcome, I will continue to move forward to show a good performance."

He also emphasized the reliance on catcher Kim Tae-kyun, stating that he will continue to do so in the future. Nail has a unique approach of not using pitch comm when there are no runners on base. He explained, "I always have short discussions with Kim Tae-kyun to plan the game and the mix of pitches, and I trust and rely on his finger signals. The signs and rhythm that Kim Tae-kyun provides give me more comfort on the mound. I try to feel that when there are no runners on base," and added with a smile, "Kim Tae-kyun tells me not to trust him."

/jhrae@ossen.co.kr

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