KIA Tigers foreign pitcher Adam Oller threw 112 pitches and delivered a scoreless performance. Despite losing a win due to bullpen struggles, he expressed gratitude to his teammates.
Oller started as the starting pitcher in the second game of the doubleheader against SSG Landers at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 10th, pitching 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 7 with a scoreless performance. He recorded his personal highest pitch count in a single game with 112 pitches. The previous record was 102 pitches, set during the Doosan Bears game on April 19.
He struck out three batters in the first inning. He struck out Choi Jeong looking with a 152 km fastball in a full count. In the second inning, there was a crisis due to an outfield defensive error. He issued a walk to lead-off batter Han Yoo-seom. Mack Bruim's hit to right-center led to a miscommunication between the center fielder and right fielder, resulting in a hit. He escaped the bases-loaded crisis with overwhelming 'KKK'.
Oller struck out Ko Myung-jun with a 141 km change-up, Jo Hyung-woo with a 136 km slider, and Jung Jun-jae with a 152 km fastball for a three-pitch strikeout.
After allowing a walk in the third inning with two outs, he ended the inning with Choi Jeong's foul fly to first base. In the fourth inning, there was another crisis. He allowed lead-off batter Han Yoo-seom to reach base with a walk. He struck out Mack Bruim on the seventh pitch and then, after a groundout by Ko Myung-jun, there were two outs with a runner on first base. He faced a crisis with a hit from Jo Hyung-woo, but continued the scoreless performance by getting Jung Jun-jae to ground out to second base.
In the fifth inning, leading 1-0 with one out, Oller faced Choi Ji-hoon, who hit a double off the center field fence. In the crisis, he got Park Sung-han to ground out to third base and struck out Choi Jeong on three pitches, celebrating. He had thrown 97 pitches by the end of the fifth inning.
However, Oller took the mound again in the sixth inning, leading 2-0. He got Han Yoo-seom to ground out to shortstop, Mack Bruim to ground out to shortstop, and struck out Ko Myung-jun with a slider for a 1-2-3 inning. He threw 112 pitches.
Oller fulfilled his responsibility with a perfect scoreless six-inning performance. However, the bullpen allowed a quick tie at 2-2 in the seventh inning, ending his chances of winning. He improved to 4 wins and 1 loss over 8 games this season, with an earned run average of 3.00. He has recorded 6 quality starts and has been consistently pitching well as he adjusts to the unfamiliar KBO league.
After the game, Oller expressed gratitude towards his teammates, noting, “I struggled to adapt to the game early on and had control issues, which led to crises from the second inning onwards. But each time, I was able to overcome these challenges thanks to my teammates' good defense.”
Oller also mentioned, “I had difficulty managing my pitch count in the early innings, but I wanted to show that I could pitch through the sixth inning no matter what. My pitch count was high even through the fifth inning, but I communicated my desire to go back out in the sixth inning directly to the manager. I had to face the heart of the batting order, but I only wanted to secure the inning and leave the game responsibly.”
Manager Lee Beom-ho praised Oller after the game, saying, "Despite the high pitch count, he showed determination by completing six innings."
Oller stated, “Now the long series and road schedule are over. I plan to focus on recovery until next week's home game, and I hope we can continue the winning streak starting from today’s game.”
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