Hit by a 'wa' pitch, yet throwing with fighting spirit despite hand injury! 7 innings, 1 run allowed in dominant performance → As Houlado roars, "standing ovation" erupts [KS3 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Samsung Lions' foreign right-handed pitcher Ariel Houlado (30) completed a stable pitching performance in the Korea Series, following his showing in the playoffs.

Houlado started Game 3 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (best-of-seven) against KT Wiz on the 6th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park, delivering a strong outing with 7 innings pitched, 5 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts, and 1 run allowed. He threw a total of 108 pitches, holding his own well on the pitcher's mound.

Houlado's only run allowed came in the top of the first inning. Houlado started nervously by giving leadoff batter Kim Min-hyuk a double down the right field line after a four-pitch at-bat. He then recorded the first out by catching An Hyun-min's liner directly in front of him after a five-pitch battle, and induced a ground ball to shortstop from No. 3 hitter Kim Hyun-soo to reach two outs, seemingly taking a breath.

However, he could not get past No. 4 hitter Hilliard with two outs and a runner on second base. He was attacked on his third pitch in an unfavorable count of two balls, allowing a go-ahead double that went over the head of Samsung center fielder Kim Ji-chan.

Houlado ended the top of the first inning without further runs by striking out the following batter Jang Sung-woo on just four pitches with a swinging strikeout. Although he took an unexpected hit in the first inning, perhaps because his body was not fully warmed up, he regained his signature sharp command and ability to handle high-pressure situations, keeping the KT lineup to one run through the sixth inning.

There were also some close calls. In the top of the 6th inning with two outs, a ball hit by Hilliard struck Houlado's hand. It resulted in an infield single toward shortstop, and while the training staff and coach Choi Il-eon from the Samsung dugout came out to check on Houlado's condition, there was no major issue.

Houlado did not lose his focus even in the top of the 7th inning, which was the final critical moment. After getting leadoff batter Kim Sang-soo out on a ground ball to second base, he allowed a double down the right field line to pinch hitter Jang Jin-hyuk, facing a one-out, runner-on-second-base situation. Houlado did not waver after catching his breath following a visit from the coaching staff to the mound. He recorded two outs by getting pinch hitter Choi Won-jun out on a fly ball to shortstop, and then induced a ground ball to first base from final pinch hitter Lee Jung-hoon before stepping on first base himself to record the final out.

After shutting down all three of KT's consecutive pinch-hitting gambits to lock up the 7th inning without allowing runs, Houlado roared upon completing his mission and headed back to the dugout. Samsung fans filling Lions Park stood up in unison, sending cheers and a standing ovation to their ace as he left the mound. Houlado handed the mound over to Lee Seung-min at the start of the top of the 8th inning, completing all of his duties.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original