'34 consecutive scoreless innings' Can nail overcome Seo Jae-eung... 'Concentrating every inning without caring about records'
'34 consecutive scoreless innings' Can nail overcome Seo Jae-eung... 'Concentrating every inning without caring about records'
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KIA Tigers foreign pitcher James Nail is continuing his cruise early this season.
In the second game of the season against the Samsung Lions of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Sunday, Nail won her first game of the season by allowing three hits, two strikeouts and no runs in seven innings. Nail pitched 87 pitches on the day, the most by type of pitch (32) in total. Sweepers (24 pitches), change-ups (15 pitches), cutters (10 pitches), fastballs and curves (three or more) followed. The maximum speed limit was 151 km/h.
In addition, Nail has increased the record of scoreless innings in consecutive starts to 34 innings since the game against the Gocheok Kiwoom Heroes on August 13 last year. The record holder in this category was Seo Jae-eung (then KIA, current NC Dinos head coach) in 2012, setting a new record of 44 consecutive scoreless innings as a starter from August 26 to September 30, 2012.
In the top of the first inning, Nail stopped the game with three outs, and faced a crisis for the first time when she gave up a double to Kang Min-ho with one out in the top of the second inning. However, she calmly filled in two out-counts with Kim Young-woong's grounder to shortstop and Park Byung-ho's fly ball to left field.
In the top of the third inning, third baseman Byun Woo-hyuk made a catch error after Lee Jae-hyun hit with two outs and a runner on first base after Kim Heon-gon's grounder to the third baseman, Ryu Ji-hyuk's hit, and Kim Ji-chan's grounder. However, Byun Woo-hyuk's error did not lead to a run. When Koo Ja-wook grounded out with runners on first and second with two outs, third baseman Byun Woo-hyuk hit the third base, continuing the nail's scoreless streak.
Nail overcame the crisis once again. After the first batter Lewin Diaz struck out in the top of the fourth inning, Kang Min-ho's throw and Kim Young-woong's hit drove him to the first and third bases with one out, but after Kang Min-ho's strikeout and Park Byung-ho's steal, Kim Hun-gon was grounded out with two outs and runners on the second and third bases to end the inning. He did not allow a run in the top of the fifth inning, and met the requirements for a winning pitcher.
Nail finished the top of the seventh inning without allowing a run, following the top of the sixth inning, and handed over the mound to Jo Sang-woo ahead of the top of the eighth inning. Nail pitched seven innings in exactly 306 days since the game against the KT Wiz in Gwangju on June 1 last year.
Holding a two-point lead until the end, KIA defeated Samsung 3-1 and gave Nail her first win. "Nail pitched three consecutive games without allowing a single goal, which contributed to the victory," KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said. "It was a pitch like the first starter," he said, expressing satisfaction, "Even in the crisis of losing points, he pitched his pitch without being shaken."
"Overall, I think I'm in a very good condition, and I feel good physically," said Nail, who met with reporters after the game 토토사이트. "I'm actually trying not to care about the scoreless record of consecutive innings, and I'm trying to focus more on every game and every inning. In the case of today (3rd), there was a bit of a crisis in the middle of the game, but I tried to focus more on each situation."
He also mentioned infielder Byun Woo-hyuk, who helped him in attack and defense. "Byun was really good, and he played well not only by defense but also by posting RBI," Nail said. "I tried to give more courage even when Byun made a mistake, and actually handled Koo Ja-wook's ground ball well. I think we should continue to fight like that from now on."
As the team started the season below expectations, and as the team has many injuries, the team may feel pressured as the first starter. However, Nail said, "The season is long. There are many situations where the team wins despite the absence of three key players including Kim Sun-bin. I don't mind the team's poor performance at the beginning of the season," he stressed.
"In fact, I think there was a burden on the evaluation because many media mentioned our team as a strong team even before the season," Nail said. "There are a lot of good players on our bench, and we have to play a good game no matter who is. It is our task to work harder so that (the players' injury gaps) do not sound like an excuse."