'More than half were balls': KIA's Lee Ui-ri, 2 innings, 6 earned runs after BBBB... Was his return to the first division too soon after 10 days? [Jamsil Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Was ten days too soon? National team left-hander Lee Ui-ri (24, KIA Tigers) still showed shaky control in his return to the first division.

On the 29th, Lee Ui-ri started against the visiting LG Twins in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, pitching 2 innings, allowing 4 hits (1 home run), issuing 4 walks, recording 1 strikeout, and giving up 6 earned runs, taking the loss for his sixth defeat of the season (1 win). As a result, Lee Ui-ri's season record stands at 10 games, 1 win, 6 losses, with an ERA of 9.42. KIA also failed to reverse the early momentum it had surrendered, losing 2-12 and halting its winning streak at six games.

This appearance came 13 days after his last outing on the 16th against the Daegu Samsung Lions, where he pitched 5⅓ innings and allowed 3 earned runs. Before being called up to the first division, Lee Ui-ri checked his condition in a Goyang Kiwoom 2nd Division League game, pitching 3 innings, allowing 3 hits, recording 3 strikeouts, and giving up 1 earned run. His fastest pitch reached 149 km/h, and he threw 31 of 46 pitches for strikes, raising expectations.

Before the game, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho said about Lee Ui-ri, "There is no limit on the number of pitches. I sincerely hope he pitches well. It is best to go as far as he can. If he can pitch five innings, we might not have to use many relievers, which could lead to a good game. We will need to check what happens after the fifth inning."

Unfortunately, he could not live up to those expectations. Lee Ui-ri issued a walk to Park Hae-min after a full count, and he received no defensive help on Austin Dean's single to left field. Han Seung-yeon let Austin Dean's hit drop behind him, allowing Park Hae-min to score.

Lee Ui-ri retired Moon Jeong-bin with a three-pitch strikeout, but he gave up a run-scoring single to left field by Oh Ji-hwan. His slider, which came inside, lacked bite. The duel with Gong Bon-hyuk was also disappointing. The clear distinction between strikes and balls led to a frustrating walk. Pitches thrown into the strike zone were easily cut.

The loss of velocity ultimately led to a big run. In a two-out, bases-loaded situation, Song Chan-ui crushed Lee Ui-ri's second inside two-seam fastball, sending it far over the left-field wall. It was his third home run of the season, traveling 102.6 meters.

Control remained unstable in the second inning as well. Lee Ui-ri walked leadoff hitter Shin Min-jae. He allowed Hong Chang-gi to advance to third base on a sacrifice bunt and gave up a run on Park Hae-min's single to center field. Even after finally throwing a strike to Austin, he allowed four consecutive walks.

He then got Moon Jeong-bin on a shortstop ground ball and Oh Ji-hwan on a right fielder's fly ball, but that was all. Lee Ui-ri was replaced by Lee Hyung-beom before the third inning and left the field.

On this day, Lee Ui-ri threw a total of 57 pitches: 34 fastballs, 11 changeups, 9 sliders, and 3 curveballs. His fastball reached a top speed of 151 km/h, but more than half, 28 pitches, were called balls, leaving control as a major issue.

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*This content was translated by AI.