A complete transformation! Deng Kaiwei struck out 8 batters in the first 4 innings but lost control in the 5th inning, issuing 3 consecutive walks that led to his defeat.

Deng Kaiwei, pitching for the San Francisco Giants, took the mound as the starter against the St. Louis Cardinals today. He was dominant through four innings with 8 strikeouts, tying his career high, but his control faltered in the fifth inning, leading to multiple walks and a costly run inning. The Giants fell 3-4, marking Deng’s fourth defeat this season.

Deng Kaiwei came out blazing in this game, allowing only one hit over the first four innings and striking out 8 batters, completely overpowering the Cardinals’ lineup. His impressive strikeout total tied the single-game record he had just set in his previous outing.

However, the turning point came in the fifth inning. Deng suddenly lost his command and issued three consecutive walks, loading the bases with no outs. After giving up a hit that allowed the first run, he was pulled from the game. His replacement couldn’t stop the bleeding, and the Cardinals scored 4 runs in the inning, all charged to Deng.

In total, Deng pitched 4 innings, giving up 3 hits and 4 earned runs. Despite recording 8 strikeouts, he also walked 5 batters, causing his ERA to rise to 7.54. Although the Giants rallied for 3 runs in the top of the 6th inning, it was not enough to overcome the deficit, and Deng’s game, which started excellently but fell apart later, ended in a loss.