SSG Landers foreign pitcher Anderson struggled in his final check ahead of the season opener. With just a week until the opening, could this be a bad omen?

Anderson took the mound as the starting pitcher in a preseason game against the LG Twins at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 15th. He threw 76 pitches over 5 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 home runs, 1 walk, striking out 5, and giving up 7 runs (6 earned).

Anderson recorded a maximum fastball speed of 153 km on this day. He threw 41 fastballs, 18 curves, 9 cutters, 7 sliders, and 1 changeup.

Anderson retired the side in order in the 1st inning, but in the 2nd inning, after one out, he allowed a solo home run to Oh Ji-hwan from the only changeup (140 km) he threw that day, which sailed over the right field fence. In the 4th inning, tied 1-1, he gave up a two-run homer to Austin after throwing him a first-pitch fastball (151 km) while there were no outs and a runner on first.

In the 5th inning, he allowed more runs due to another extra-base hit. The lead-off batter Moon Jung-bin hit a ground ball, which the shortstop mishandled, causing a stir. After allowing a hit to the lower-order hitter Koo Bon-hyuk, a surprise bunt by Shin Min-jae toward third base was fielded by Anderson, but it turned into a hit since he couldn't throw it anywhere.

It was unfortunate that he allowed a walk to Park Hae-min for a bases-loaded walk with one out. Earlier, he threw a high fastball (151 km) to Austin, who hit it solidly for a clearing three-RBI double to left-center, expanding the score to 2-7.

Anderson handed the ball over to Kim Kwang-hyun in the 6th inning, and SSG lost 4-9.

Anderson has a record of 1 win, 1 loss, and an earned run average of 6.23 over 3 games against LG last year. In their first matchup on May 30, he achieved a quality start by throwing 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, striking out 7, and giving up 2 runs. In the bottom of the 6th inning, down 1-2, Choi Jeong hit a two-run homer, securing the win.

In his second game against LG on Aug. 20, he recorded 5 innings, 4 hits allowed, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, and gave up 2 runs before exiting the game with the score tied at 2-2. Facing LG on Sept. 20, during the fierce 5-team battle at the end of the season, Anderson was hit hard again, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) over 2 innings with 5 hits and 4 walks.

Anderson, who allowed 7 runs including 2 home runs in the final preseason check, might not have any worries about being the opening day starter. Anderson is heavily favored to be the opening day starter against Doosan. Last year, Anderson pitched as a starter in 2 games against Doosan, achieving 2 wins with no losses and a dominant earned run average of 0.79. He pitched 11⅓ innings and allowed only 1 earned run.

[OSEN]