Venezuelan ace burnishes big-game reputation with Korean Series win

▲ KT Wiz starter William Cuevas pitches against the Doosan Bears during the top of the first inning in Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ KT Wiz starter William Cuevas salutes the crowd on his way to the dugout during the top of the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ KT Wiz starter William Cuevas pitches against the Doosan Bears during the top of the first inning in Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2021. (Yonhap)

▲ KT Wiz starter William Cuevas (L) smiles before being removed from Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears during the top of the eighth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 14, 2021. (Yonhap)

Korean Series-pitching performance

Venezuelan ace burnishes big-game reputation with Korean Series win

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- With his latest gem in a high-pressure game, KT Wiz ace William Cuevas burnished his growing reputation as a big-game pitcher on Sunday.

Cuevas held the Doosan Bears to one run over 7 2/3 innings in Game 1 of the Korean Series, as the Wiz prevailed 4-2. He allowed seven hits and struck out eight without walking anyone.

Seven of Cuevas' eight strikeouts were of the swinging variety: four on curveballs, two on two-seam fastballs and one on a cutter.

Cuevas needed only eight pitches to retire the side in order in the first inning, and got around a leadoff single with a strikeout and a double play.

The Bears had a runner in scoring position for the first time in the third inning, following a single and a sacrifice bunt, but Cuevas retired the next two batters to keep them off the board.

The Bears threatened again in the fourth, with a single and a double putting two aboard with one out. But Cuevas remained sharp under pressure, striking out Yang Suk-hwan on a two-seam fastball and then getting Park Sei-hyok to whiff on a 2-2 cutter.

The Wiz took a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom fourth, but Cuevas gave up his first run on a sacrifice fly in the top fifth. He promptly went back to his efficient self over ensuing innings.

Cuevas hit the first batter of the sixth, Park Kun-woo, who later stole second to get himself into scoring position. But Cuevas struck out the next two batters and retired Park Sei-hyok on a soft fly to left.

Cuevas then worked a three-up, three-down seventh inning on eight pitches.

The Wiz spotted Cuevas a 4-1 lead in the bottom seventh, behind Bae Jung-dae's solo homer, Hwang Jae-gyun's RBI groundout and Kang Baek-ho's two-out single.

Cuevas came back out for the eighth inning, with his pitch count at only 88. He allowed a one-out single to Jose Miguel Fernandez, and after getting the second out of the inning on his 100th pitch, Cuevas was pulled in favor of left-hander Jo Hyun-woo.

Left-handed slugger Kim Jae-hwan was due up, and with Kim having singled and doubled against Cuevas, the Wiz weren't taking any chances.

Jo did his job by getting Kim to fly out weakly to left field. Closer Kim Jae-yoon gave up a run in the top ninth, but limited further damage to preserve a win for Cuevas.

This game came two weeks after Cuevas had pitched the Wiz to the Korean Series.

On Oct. 31, the Wiz faced the Samsung Lions in a rare tiebreaker game to determine the top spot in the regular season and a direct ticket to the Korean Series. Despite starting on two days' rest, Cuevas tossed seven shutout innings in a gutsy outing for a 1-0 KT victory.

That win earned the Wiz a two-week break before the championship round. There was little doubt who would get the ball for the Wiz in Game 1, and Cuevas delivered once again.

The team that won Game 1 of the Korean Series has gone on to capture the title 28 out of 37 times before this year.

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