“I don’t want to retire like that (embarrassingly).”

Adam Wainwright (42), a veteran pitcher representing the major leagues, started on the 12th (Korean time) in the match against the Kansas City Royals in the ‘2023 Major League’ held at Coffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.먹튀검증

Kansas City, against which Wainwright faced that day, remained at the bottom of the American League with a season record of 37 wins and 80 losses (0.316 win rate). However, he bowed his head with his worst pitch this year against sluggish Kansas City.

Wainwright gave up four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. He got off to a bad start. He got on the mound in the bottom of the second inning as well, but couldn’t catch a single out count. He hit two home runs and gave up three runs for a total of eight runs. His final performance was 9 hits (2 home runs) in 1 inning, no runs, 4 walks and 8 runs, and his earned run average soared from 7.81 to 8.78.

Wainwright was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his big-league debut with St. Louis in 2005 and has never moved from one team to another. His career record is 198 wins, 124 losses, 2634 innings, 3.52 earned run average, 2186 strikeouts in 472 games (405 starts), and a WHIP (on-base percentage per inning) of 1.24. From 2007 to 2014, he recorded double-digit wins for 7 consecutive seasons and established himself as an ace representing the league.

Wainwright also pitched 191⅔ innings in 32 games last year and won 11 games. Before this season, he announced his retirement and made a beautiful finish, but he is not recording as much as expected. His earned run average is at an all-time high, and his ability to digest innings per game doesn’t exceed 5 innings.

In particular, Wainwright expressed his will to achieve 200 wins in the big leagues, but with two wins left, his pitching continues to be sluggish. After winning 198 against the New York Mets on June 18, there is no win in seven consecutive games. He pitched five or more innings only twice.

After the game, St. Louis manager Oliver Marmall said in an interview with MLB.com, the official homepage of Major League Baseball, “The result is unfortunate, but I will sit down with Wainwright and check the next situation.”

In response, Wainwright said, “I don’t want to retire like that (embarrassingly). That’s a shame. No one wants to see that. I know people are rooting for me. “I understand the situation, but I want you to believe in me. And I’m sure I’ll finish the season strong. I don’t know why, but I believe I will and that’s important.”

As currently scheduled, St. Louis’ season-ending date is October 2 against the Cincinnati Reds. About two months left. Will Wainwright be able to overcome the sluggish trend and secure the much-desired 200th victory?