Two-hit pitching completed the Quality Start Plus. LOTTE’s Dan Straily pitched a complete-game shutout in the team’s big win.
Stratton started the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League regular-season game against the KIA Tigers at Sajik Stadium in Busan on Feb. 2 and threw seven innings of 118 pitches with eight hits, one walk, eight strikeouts and two earned runs in a 14-2 victory. It was his third win of the season (4-0) and first quality start of the season (7+ innings, 3 earned runs or less).
Streeley did not have a strikeout inning on the day. He faced a hit in each inning, but he dug in aggressively and pitched seven innings with the support of a big batting lineup.
He threw a fastball (45) that touched 94 mph, along with 39 sliders, 26 changeups, and four curves.
He gave up a run in the fifth inning, but there were some unfortunate circumstances. With runners on first and second, he induced Park 스포츠토토 Chan-ho to hit a grounder to shortstop, but Lee Hak-joo threw to first instead of second to end the inning. Eventually, Socrates gave up a two-run double, but no further runs were scored.
In particular, despite having thrown 105 pitches by the sixth inning, Staley was in charge until the seventh inning. After the game, catcher Lee Jung-geun said, “He said he wanted to throw more. He said he still had strength, so he threw one more inning.”
He gave up a leadoff single to Han Seung-taek in the seventh, but induced Byun Woo-hyuk to fly out to shortstop and Kim Kyu-sung to ground out to third base, completing his 118-pitch effort. The 118 pitches were the most ever thrown in a single game in the KBO.
After the game, Straily said, “I was just trying to throw a lot of strikes consistently. I’ve been working a lot lately to get my body in better shape between starts and games,” he said.
“The hitters scored a lot of runs early, which made it easier for me,” he said, giving credit to his teammates.
“I don’t think I pitched well, but they scored a lot of runs, so I was able to be aggressive and it worked out well overall. I would like to tell them that I would like to ask for their support in my future starts,” he said, reiterating his teammates’ support.
