Samsung Reyes threw only for the "team"
Reyes started the game against the Lotte Giants of the "2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League" held at Sajik Baseball Stadium on Sunday. He pitched 107 pitches during six ⅔ innings, allowing six hits, five strikeouts, one walk and no run. He earned his second quality start (less than three earned runs in six innings) for this season, and earned two wins (two losses) for this season.
In the beginning of the game, Reyes displayed outstanding pitching. He sent a runner out, but he did not lose a point and maintained his team's lead. Victor Reyes hit a left-handed hit after two outs in the bottom of the first inning, but he caught Jeon Jun-woo with a fly ball to center field to end the inning.
Samsung lightened Reyes' shoulder. With runners on the third base with one out, Kang scored the first run with a two-run homer over the left fence in the top of the second inning. Reyes, backed by scoring support, boosted his performance. In the bottom of the third inning, Ryu Kang-nam, the leadoff hitter, allowed a walk, but after striking out Yoon Dong-hee, he treated Kim Min-seok as a double play to the first base to fill three out counts. Afterwards, he gave up a hit in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to send out a leadoff hitter, but he blocked it neatly and displayed a scoreless pitching.
Reyes took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning as well, when he displayed overwhelming pitching. Back-to-back hits by leadoff hitters Jung Hoon and Lee Hak-joo made it to the first and second bases with no outs. Afterwards, he gave up a sacrifice bunt to Son Ho-young, which faced a crisis of losing points with runners on the second and third bases with one out. A single hit could even tie the game. Reyes threw a more powerful ball responsibly. After a close game with Choi Hang, he drew the bat through a changeup that fell to the 10th pitch and gave it a strikeout with a swing and miss.
Samsung coach Park Jin-man decided to replace Reyes, who did his best in the game with Choi Hang. Pitcher coach Jung Min-tae headed to the mound with the ball, and Reyes turned the baton to Lim Chang-min and headed to the dugout. Since then, Lim Chang-min has blocked innings without losing a point, erasing Reyes' leading runner. Reyes pitched well on the day, securing his first quality start (less than three earned runs in six innings) and victory.
After the game, Park gave a generous round of applause for Reyes' performance. "He showed the best pitching that Reyes wanted in his team," Park said with a thumbs up.
Reyes is in charge of Samsung's one-two punch along with Conor Seabold. He started the game against the KT Wiz in Suwon on April 24, the opening series, and drew attention with an impressive pitch of one run in six innings. However, the situation was not good afterward. He allowed six runs in two ⅔ innings against the SSG Landers in Daegu on April 30 and five runs in five innings against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju on April 5, with his ERA rising to 7.90. 먹튀검증
He continued to show sluggish performance, but the day was different. Reyes gave valuable victory by holding out on the mound with the determination to contribute to his team. After the game, Reyes said, "I was determined to throw at least five scoreless innings in order to win my team today (11th). That's how I took the mound. It was my will to throw 107 pitches in seven innings again. Pitcher coach Jung Min-tae and catcher Kang Min-ho came to the mound several times and said, "I am throwing well. Take a breath." Choi Hang, the last batter, said, "I really wanted to strike out and never wanted to lose a point until the end. I already pitched a lot and knew I had to go down, so I had no regrets."
Samsung was concerned that foreign pitchers including Reyes have not been able to show their skills, but Reyes relieved the concern by firing signs of rebound on the day. Will Reyes instill stability in the starting lineup with his outstanding pitching on the day.