SUWON, South Korea — In an overpowering performance that redefined the term "ace," NC Dinos right-hander Erick Fedde transformed a much-anticipated pitching duel into a one-sided showdown in Monday's Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason game. Fedde led the Dinos to a decisive 9-5 win over the KT Wiz in Game 1 of the second round at KT Wiz Park.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Fedde struck out 12 batters in six innings, permitting only one run on three hits. On the other side, KT Wiz's William Cuevas had a troubling outing, surrendering seven runs, three of which were unearned, over a span of just over three innings. Cuevas also committed an error and threw a wild pitch.
The matchup had been framed as a battle between two of the league's premier pitchers. Fedde was the Triple Crown winner during the regular season with 20 wins, 209 strikeouts, and a 2.00 ERA. Cuevas was undefeated during the regular season, recording a 2.60 ERA and building a reputation as a reliable postseason performer.
Returning from a right forearm injury, Fedde showed no signs of discomfort. He was cleared to participate just before the start of the series and wasted no time in making an impact, retiring the first six batters he faced.
The Dinos led 4-1 when Moon Sang-chul hit a solo home run off Fedde. Despite this, the Dinos expanded their lead to 8-1 after the fourth inning, providing ample run support for Fedde.
Fedde returned the favor, striking out the heart of the Wiz lineup — Anthony Alford, Park Byung-ho, and Jang Sung-woo — in the bottom fourth. Of his 12 strikeouts, nine were swings and misses, largely coming on curveballs that left Wiz batters struggling.
Fedde's diverse pitch selection further complicated matters for the Wiz. He did not rely on straight pitches, opting instead for a mix of 49 curveballs, 37 two-seam fastballs, seven changeups, and five cutters.
Fedde expressed his gratitude for the extra rest afforded to him by his team's prior sweep of the SSG Landers. "That was huge. I think we saw today what that extra rest was," he said.
Cuevas, in contrast, struggled from the outset. His performance was marred by a series of misplays, including a critical error that contributed to the Dinos' early lead.
Fedde and his teammates enter the rest of the postseason with high expectations. "Every time we step on the field, we expect to win. That's the kind of culture we have here," Fedde noted.
As for the KT Wiz, they will have to regroup quickly, as they try to bounce back from this lopsided loss, largely attributable to Cuevas' struggles on the mound and the team's defensive lapses.