CHANGWON, South Korea - William Cuevas, starting pitcher for KT Wiz, delivered a standout performance in the crucial fourth game of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason on Friday. Cuevas' mastery on the mound against the NC Dinos facilitated an 11-2 victory for the Wiz, balancing the second-round series at two games apiece.
According to Yonhap News Agency, team sources, Cuevas, who pitched on only three days' rest, confined the Dinos to a single hit over six innings at Changwon NC Park. His command over an array of pitches — cutters, four-seam fastballs, two-seam fastballs, changeups, and sliders — and the velocity of his fastballs reaching 150 kilometers per hour, contributed significantly to the win.
This game was a stark contrast to Cuevas' Game 1 performance, where he conceded seven runs over three innings. Recovering from that setback, he played an essential role in extending the best-of-five series to a deciding Game 5, set to occur at KT Wiz Park in Suwon.
Cuevas' previous postseason accomplishments include pivotal starts during the Wiz's championship run in 2021. Notably, in a tiebreaker for the top regular season spot against the Samsung Lions, Cuevas pitched seven innings of one-hit ball. He continued his postseason success as the starter in the Korean Series, limiting the Doosan Bears to one run over 7 2/3 innings in the first game.
Reflecting on his resilience after the Game 1 loss and his approach to Friday's game, Cuevas emphasized the importance of a short memory and thorough preparation. The Venezuelan pitcher's ability to quickly move past his rough outing and refocus contributed to his poise on the mound.
The deciding Game 5 promises high stakes as the Wiz, buoyed by Cuevas' performance and a supportive offensive lineup, look to continue their playoff journey.