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QS in 60 days, but a hit to 10 billion outfielders…U.S. Independent League left-hander cries at home run after throwing well

I threw well and cried.

Kiwoom Heroes foreign pitcher Ian McKinney started Game 13 of the season against the NC Dinos of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Changwon NC Park on the 5th.

McKinney is hardly gaining strength. He is sluggish with 1 win, 8 losses and a 6.92 ERA in 11 games. In particular, he played seven games in the second half with five losses and an 8.91 ERA. He also continues to hit home runs.

Before the game, Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki said, "I have been concerned about my control since I was in the independent league. He is driven to the center because he can't control, and smart domestic hitters are giving McKinney a hard time. Korean hitters now have the ability to make strong hits. "If my control is not supplemented, I think I will continue to struggle," he said.

The game got off to a good start. Son Ah-seop grounded into shortstop, Park Min-woo to second baseman fly ball, and Park Kun-woo to third baseman ground ball. In the second inning, he struck out Jason Martin and sent out Kim Sung-wook due to a fielder's error, but both Do Tae-hoon and Seo Ho-chul were hit. In the third and fourth innings, he made a clean three-way exit inning.

It was McKinney who showed the best flow of pitching since coming to the KBO. He didn't give up any hits and walks until the fourth inning.

He gave up his first walk to Kim Sung-wook in the fifth inning. After turning Do Tae-hoon to a foul fly, he gave Seo Ho-chul a walk, facing a crisis of runners on first and second base with one out, but Kim Hyung-joon hit a fly ball to left field and Kim Joo-won struck out. The ability to manage crises stood out. He showed no-hit pitching that did not give up a single hit until the fifth inning.

McKinney, who was throwing well, eventually allowed a run in the sixth inning. He gave up a walk to Son Ah-seop and turned Park Min-woo into a hit, but Park Kun-woo hit a two-run shot over the right fence. The first hit of the game was a home run. He then began to shake with a hit by Martin. Fortunately, he later handled the two batters with a fly ball and did not allow additional runs.

The Kiwoom bench replaced the mound before entering the seventh inning. I lowered McKinney and raised Park Seung-joo.

McKinney pitched well with two hits, three outs, three strikeouts and two runs in six innings. It is the third quality start of the season (less than three earned runs in six innings) and QS in 60 days since the Doosan Bears match on July 7.

However, in the second half of the year, the home run, which had been holding back the whole time, also hampered the day, and the team lost 1-2 and eventually lost nine games of the season. McKinney, who hit nine home runs in seven games in the second half, hit his 10th home run of the season by adding one home run.

McKinney threw 89 pitches on the day. He picked 43 fastballs, 30 changeups, 15 curves, and 1 cutter and threw them. The maximum speed is 140 kilometers.

McKinney, who has been hit hard with problems with his control so far, was different on this day. There are not many remaining games left, but it was a game that made us look forward to the future.