Foreign pitchers Cole Ervin and Jack Logg of the Doosan Bears finished their preparations for the regular season opening series by making their final appearances in the exhibition games.

Doosan played an exhibition game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul, on the 16th. Foreign pitchers Ervin and Logg pitched in succession, preparing for the opening doubleheader against the SSG Landers on the 22nd and 23rd.

Doosan manager Lee Seung-yup noted before the game that both foreign pitchers, who are left-handed, will be utilized as starters for the 1st and 2nd games of the season. The manager said, “I will use the foreign pitchers as the 1st and 2nd starters to use them more often. As they receive high salaries, they need to feel the pressure.”

Ervin pitched 4 innings as the starting pitcher, allowing 4 hits, striking out 6 batters, and not allowing any runs. He threw 56 pitches, including fastballs (15), two-seam fastballs (18), curves (10), sliders (7), cutters (3), and change-ups (3). His maximum fastball speed was 154 km/h, with an average of 149 km/h, and his maximum two-seam fastball was 153 km/h with an average of 147 km/h.

Logg entered the game as the second pitcher, throwing 34 pitches over 3 innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 5 batters, and giving up 2 runs. He threw fastballs (14), two-seam fastballs (8), sliders (7), change-ups (4), and a cutter (1). His maximum fastball speed was 150 km/h, with an average of 146 km/h, which was slightly slower than Ervin. His maximum two-seam fastball was 145 km/h, with an average of 143 km/h.

Ervin faced a crisis with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd after allowing a bridge hit to Jeong Tae-hyun and Lee Ju-hyung in the 1st inning, but struck out Song Seong-mun and induced Choi Joo-hwan to ground into a double play to avoid any runs. In the 2nd inning, he allowed a double to Kang Jin-sung, the lead-off batter, but overcame the threat by striking out three batters in succession.

In the 3rd inning, he allowed a hit to Cardenas but struck out 2 batters, and in the 4th inning, he caught Choi Joo-hwan and Kang Jin-sung with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning in a 1-2-3 manner.

Logg pitched in the 5th inning, finishing the inning in a 1-2-3 manner by allowing 2 infield ground balls and striking out 1 batter. He allowed runs in the 6th inning. The lead-off batter Cardenas's batted ball hit the second baseman and became an infield hit in front of the center fielder.

He allowed 2 runs after giving up a double to Lee Ju-hyung in the right-center and a double to Song Seong-mun down the left field line. He briefly shook but finished the inning by catching Choi Joo-hwan as a flyout to center field, striking out Kang Jin-sung, and striking out Yeo Dong-wook. He ended the 7th inning striking out 2 batters without allowing any runs.

Cole Ervin commented, “Today, I focused on checking all my pitches. I got good results in speed, control, and location. It's the last appearance in the exhibition game, but I'm satisfied. I have maintained a healthy condition from the first day of spring camp until today. Since I have built my body step by step, I will show a good performance to the fans in the regular season.”

Jack Logg commented, “I tried to keep the ball count favorable, and it seems to have gone according to plan. Most of my pitches seemed to be in the strike zone. I gave up runs, but I’m not too concerned about it. At this point, the most important thing is that my physical condition is very good. I hope the regular season starts soon.”

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