KT Wiz foreign-born pitcher Wes Benjamin is showing early signs of determination for Game 5 of the Korean Baseball Organization’s best-of-five playoffs (PO-5).
KT, which is trailing the NC Dinos by two games to one, will need to take Game 4 on Wednesday to set up Game 5. The starting pitcher for Game 5 has not yet been announced.
Benjamin took the loss in Game 2 of the PO on March 31 after giving up three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two.
“If I go to Game 5, I’ll be facing their best pitcher, (Eric) Peddy,” Benjamin said before Game 4, adding, “I’m not fighting him, I’m fighting myself.”
“If NC can get their bullpen out a little quicker, I think we’ll have a good chance,” he said.
When asked what differences he would bring from the second round, he laughed and said, “If there are any, I can’t say them publicly,” and then replied, “I think if I focus on my mechanics and pitch my own pitches, there will be good results.”
Game 2 of the POs was also Benjamin’s first game in 25 days after suffering from left arm pain. He was hit in the thigh by a hard-hit pitch in the top of the fifth inning.
Benjamin reassured that he was 100 percent.
“I actually had a nerve problem in my neck, but the doctor and trainer helped me a lot, so my body condition improved a lot,” Benjamin said. “I was hit by a bat for two or three days, but when I pitched in the bullpen today, I didn’t feel any pain and my body condition was perfect.”
The starting pitcher for KT on this day was William Cuevas, who pitched four days after the first game of the PO.
It’s reminiscent of Benjamin’s dedication last season.
After winning the final home game of the regular season, Benjamin pitched out of the bullpen in the wild-card game against the KIA Tigers on just two days’ rest, and then started the second game of the semifinals against the Kiwoom Heroes on three days’ rest.
“At the end of the season, with only a few games left, it’s natural to want to go out and pitch as much as possible,” Benjamin said. “Of course, it’s a challenge, but I trust my bullpen and will do whatever it takes to help the team win.” 먹튀검증