119 pitches in nine innings. This is the number of innings and pitches recorded by Samsung Lions’ “ace” David Buchanan in the last game of the first half. I was desperate for victory more than anyone else.

Buchanan took the mound as a 꽁머니지급 starting pitcher in an away game against the KIA Tigers in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 13th and led the team to a 4-1 victory with four hits, no outs, and one run in nine innings. From the bottom of the first inning to the bottom of the ninth inning, he caught 27 outcounts by himself.

Buchanan continued his cruise with the batting line’s scoring support. The batters scored the first run with catcher Kim Tae-gun’s fast ball (foil) in the top of the third inning with two outs and runners on first and third bases, and added two more runs with Kim Jae-sung’s two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. It was a score that could give strength to the starting pitcher, even if it wasn’t a massive score.

Buchanan, who allowed an infield hit to Socrates Brito with one out in the bottom of the second inning, later blocked KIA’s batters perfectly by continuing his 15 consecutive batting streak. In the bottom of the seventh inning, he allowed to get on base for the first time in a long time with one out, but it was not a hit or a walk, but a mistake. Lee Jae-hyun made a throwing error when Na Sung-bum grounded out to shortstop.

However, Buchanan calmly continued to pitch, and Choi Hyung-woo and Socrates were put on a fly ball and a ground ball, respectively, to finish the inning. Buchanan, who struck out two batters and retired three batters in the bottom of the eighth inning, took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning to challenge the shutout. After his KBO League debut, Buchanan’s shutout was once in 2021 and last year, respectively.

Buchanan seemed to be approaching a shutout by catching leadoff hitter Ko Jong-wook with a ground ball, but was in crisis as Choi Won-joon’s hit and Kim Do-young’s double made consecutive hits. In the end, when follow-up hitter Na Sung-beom grounded out to first base, first baseman Choi Won-joon stepped home, and it was the moment Buchanan’s first run went up.
Although the shutout challenge failed, Buchanan focused on his 27th out count. With two outs and third base, Choi Hyung-woo was caught with a grounder to second base after a five-ball match, ending the three-hour close game. It was the moment when Buchanan, who has played in the KBO League since 2020, completed his fourth career complete pitch. Bullpen pitchers who could have had enough rest during the All-Star break could have taken over the mound, but Buchanan remained on the mound until the end.

Including the game, Buchanan pitched in 17 games in the first half, recording 7 wins, 6 losses, and a 2.88 ERA in 109⅓ innings. He has performed steadily enough to achieve quality start (QS) 11 times, and in terms of the most innings, he ranks second in the league after Ariel Furado (Kium Heroes, 111⅔ innings).

Buchanan, who has achieved more than 15 wins in more than 170 innings for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021, has been reborn as an ace representing Samsung, and last year, he showed an ace-like appearance with 11 wins, 8 losses, and a 3.04 ERA in 160 innings. Some said that the power was a little lower than the previous two seasons, but Buchanan cleared the question mark by harvesting seven wins in the first half of this season alone.

In particular, Samsung suffered big and small trials throughout the first half, and in the meantime, the team’s ranking fell to the bottom. When the home game is held, many spectators visit Daegu Samsung Lions Park, their home stadium, but the team ended the first half with a shabby report card of 31 wins and 49 losses (0.388).

It is true that it is not easy to escape from the bottom as well as leap into the middle as the gap between Samsung and the ninth-ranked Kiwoom Heroes has widened to five games. Samsung still has 64 games left. It is not the stage to give up. In the second half, it should be shown as a result. Buchanan should not forget his desperate desire to finish the game on his own.