Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu (36) emphasized that the team’s postseason run is more important than his own victory.
Ryu started the game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Monday (Aug. 18) and went 4 ⅔ innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He got two outs in the fifth inning with Toronto up 1-0, but was replaced by Garcia with runners on first and second. Toronto went on to win 3-2.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery last June, Ryu rehabbed quickly to return to the majors after nearly 13 months on the disabled list. However, he has yet to pitch many innings. The only time he went six innings this season was against Texas on March 13. His highest pitch count was 86 pitches against the Cubs on April 14. Prior to that game, he had thrown less than 80 pitches in each of his last three starts (70, 76, 77).
However, the fifth inning could have been a disappointment for Ryu. He needed just one out to win the game and still had 83 pitches to spare. However, manager John Schneider made the decision to pull him. In his postgame interview, Schneider explained, “We took into consideration the pitch count and what he pitched today, but Ryu is a pitcher who can throw good pitches in big moments.”
Ryu, who failed to win his fourth game of the season, said, “It doesn’t matter in a situation like this, where each game is important. I was still in trouble, and I got a double before that. In that situation, the player has to accept (the bench’s decision),” he said, accepting Schneider’s decision.먹튀검증
Toronto is currently in the thick of the postseason race. With the win, their third straight after a four-game losing streak, the Jays are 83-67 and in third place in the American League East. While the division title is now out of reach, the Jays can still make the postseason as a wild card. Second-place Tampa Bay (92-59) has clinched the No. 1 wild-card spot in the American League East, followed by Toronto in second place. Third-place Texas (82 wins, 67 losses) and fourth-place Seattle (81 wins, 68 losses) are hot on their heels. Toronto and Texas are separated by 0.5 games and Seattle by 1 game.
“At the beginning of the season, I would have been disappointed or said I would have pitched more, but we’re not in that situation,” said Ryu, who emphasized that he trusts the coaches’ judgment. “It’s true that we sank a little bit after the four-game losing streak. But from the first game, the players showed a little more focus. The pitchers were shaky and gave up a lot of runs against Texas, but they pitched well,” he said, reigniting their determination to advance to the postseason.