'Without Ponce, Furado is King = 'No-Ponce-Furado-King'' — 10 out of 11 games: Is this real? "Thanks to every player giving their best with one heart" — and even humility

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions' 'No. 1 starting ace' Ariel Furado (30) led his team to victory with a flawless performance despite the harsh weather. He has personally proven that without Cody Ponce (32, Toronto Blue Jays), who left Hanwha Eagles for the major leagues ahead of this season, he is the top pitcher of this year.

On the 27th, Furado started against the SSG Landers in the second of a three-game midweek series at Incheon SSG Landers Field in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League'. He pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, one walk, striking out three batters, and giving up one unearned run, securing his third win of the season. This was his first victory since April 16 against Hanwha Eagles, coming after seven games.

This was a game that truly demonstrated what it means to be an 'ace'. If asked to name the most reliable pitcher in the KBO League today, the answer is undoubtedly Furado. Except for his previous start against KT on the 21st (5⅔ innings, four runs, two earned runs), Furado has consistently recorded a Quality Start (QS) — defined as a starting pitcher pitching at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs — in every game this season.

Even the only game where he missed a QS, the KT matchup, he was pulled with just one out remaining due to a parade of fielding errors by the position players. In effect, he has shouldered full responsibility for every game. The reason fans are praising him with the phrase 'Without Ponce, Furado is King (No-Ponce-Furado-King)' lies in this astonishing record of 10 QS in 11 games.

Today's game was also a battle against variables beyond pitching. Rain, forecast before the game, grew heavier during the match. Additionally, a variable occurred when Furado was hit on his forearm by a batted ball. Run support was also somewhat lacking. Samsung created bases-loaded opportunities in both the fourth and fifth innings but failed to score a single run, a 'constipation-style' offense that placed a heavy burden on Furado's shoulders. In the bottom of the fourth, Lewin Diaz's fielding error compounded the situation, leading to an unearned but unfortunate first run.

Despite the poor weather and disappointing run support, Furado remained unfazed and held the mound firmly through the seventh inning. Fortunately, Park Seung-gyu's dramatic go-ahead home run broke the deadlock, allowing Furado to leave the mound in good spirits after meeting the criteria for a win. With the score at 2-1, he handed the mound to Bae Chan-seung, and the long-awaited additional run in the top of the ninth sealed his victory as the winning pitcher.

After the game, Furado displayed humility by attributing the victory not to himself but to his teammates. Furado said, "I'm truly happy to be the winning pitcher after a long time," and added, "On days like today, when it rains heavily and the weather is humid, the mound becomes slippery and pitchers can tire more quickly than usual. Thanks to every player giving their best with one heart, we achieved a good result," expressing his gratitude to his teammates.

He also expressed satisfaction with his chemistry with 'veteran catcher' Kang Min-ho (41) and his preparation through detailed analysis of opponents. Furado remarked, "Our battery chemistry with Kang Min-ho was as good as usual, and our thorough analysis of opposing batters proved effective." He concluded, "I was satisfied with all the pitches I threw today. In particular, I'm most pleased with how we induced weak contact from opposing batters and efficiently recorded outs."

Furado, who possesses unwavering skill even in adversity and a character that prioritizes his teammates, has firmly established himself as Samsung's reliable 'constant'. It remains to be seen how far his impressive performances will continue.

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*This content was translated by AI.