Samsung Lions secured a 6-1 victory over Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon on April 16, extending their winning streak to six games. Ariel Jurado delivered a standout performance, transforming early-season struggles into a dominant outing.
Jurado’s Turnaround Performance
Jurado, who posted a 1-1 record with a 2.50 ERA across three starts, earned a quality start by pitching six innings and allowing just one run. He struck out key batters and limited damage, handing the ball to the bullpen with confidence.
After consecutive outings where he failed to complete five innings—highlighted by two home runs surrendered to Hanwha’s Yang Chang-seop on April 15—Jurado rebounded strongly. Despite lingering injury concerns, he controlled the game effectively.
Hanwha’s third batter in the lineup went hitless in three at-bats, underscoring Jurado’s command. His pitch mix included fastballs reaching 149 km/h (possum and twosim), 22 changeups, 15 sliders, 10 cutters, and 3 curveballs, totaling 93 pitches with 67 strikes (72%).
Key Moments and Bullpen Seal
Jurado retired the side scoreless through five innings before yielding three runners in the sixth, but Samsung rallied for a comeback. In the seventh, he struck out the side on nine fastballs, ensuring a clean transition.
The Lions, leading the standings, improved to 11 wins, 1 loss, and 4 draws. Director Park praised Jurado: “He caught so many innings without four safe hits that the game flowed well.”
Jurado Reflects on Milestone
“I aimed to definitely hold seven innings before handing to the bullpen, and achieving that goal feels great,” Jurado said. “I’m proud. I focused on first-pitch strikes to batters, which led to good results. Especially, using heavy fastballs against key hitters and aiming for more zip concentration worked, resulting in the fewest strikeouts needed to navigate the inning.”
He added: “Even in Daejeon, I feel confident winning all three starts, but more importantly, I’m thankful to passionate fans.”
