Hurado Earns Key Victory, Credits Teammates for Samsung Lions’ Win
Ariel Hurado, the foreign ace for the Samsung Lions, celebrated a much-anticipated win on June 25th, but his immediate focus was not on his personal achievement. Instead, he highlighted the importance of team victory, stating, “The most important thing is always the team’s win.”
Hurado took the mound for the Lions against the LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one batter, and struck out three, giving up three earned runs to secure his fourth win of the season. This victory marked his first win in 29 days, following his last win on June 27th against the SSG Landers.
Consistent Performance Meets Offensive Support
Despite recording his 11th Quality Start (QS) of the season, Hurado had previously only managed three wins, a testament to his often unlucky season. However, on this occasion, the offense provided ample support from the early innings, allowing Hurado to finally achieve a win after a long wait. The Lions secured a decisive 13-6 victory over LG, ending a two-game losing streak.
The offensive onslaught began in the first and second innings, giving the Lions an early lead. With this cushion, Hurado was able to pitch with confidence. Key offensive contributions came from Ruvyn Diaz, who hit a home run and went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Gu Ja-wook added four hits in six at-bats with one RBI and three runs scored, while Choi Hyeong-woo went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs. Kim Ji-chan contributed two hits in five at-bats with two runs, Park Seung-gyu had two hits in two at-bats with three runs, and Ryu Ji-hyuk added one hit in four at-bats with three runs.
Hurado Reflects on Team Effort and Pitching Strategy
Following the game, Hurado shared his thoughts with the team’s official YouTube channel, ‘Lions TV’. He expressed his joy, stating, “I always want the team to win. I’m really happy we won. The most important thing is always the team’s win.”
He further elaborated on the offensive support, saying, “Today, the offense scored many runs from the start, allowing us to take the lead. Thanks to that, we were able to get a good result.”
Reflecting on his pitching performance, Hurado emphasized the importance of maintaining the lead. “It was most important to keep the score difference from narrowing. I focused on minimizing earned runs and pitching deep into the innings,” he explained.
Focus on Pitch Count and Curveball Usage
Hurado also discussed his consistent strategy of pitching deep into games. “I always think pitching deep into the innings is the most important thing. I pitched according to my style, focusing on reducing my pitch count each inning. That part greatly helps in continuing to achieve Quality Starts,” he stated.
The effectiveness of his curveball usage was also highlighted. “I used the curveball a few times today, which I don’t throw as often as usual. It went into the desired location whenever it was needed,” he added with satisfaction.
