“It was really seasoned pitching”
The Hanwha Eagles defeated the Doosan Bears 3-0 in the third game of the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday, snapping a five-game losing streak that began against the Kiwoom Heroes.
The game was highlighted by the return of Ryu Hyun-jin, who was looking for his first win in the KBO and his 99th career victory in the KBO. Ryu, who returned to his hometown after signing an eight-year, 17 billion won contract with the Stoble League, had pitched well in the exhibition games with a 2-2 record and a 3.00 ERA, but before this game, he was in the worst form in the regular season with a 3-2 record and an 8.36 ERA.
Ryu took the mound in the opener, but was unable to get any help from his defense, allowing five runs (two earned) in just 3⅔ innings to take his first loss of the season. In his second outing, he recorded a quality start (six innings or less) against the KT Wiz, allowing two runs (two earned) while striking out nine in six innings, but was unable to get any support from his offense, resulting in a no-decision, and in his last start against the Kiwoom Heroes, he allowed a whopping nine runs in 4⅓ innings. It was the most runs allowed in his KBO career.
However, Choi Won-ho didn’t seem to be too concerned about Ryu’s struggles. “He’s in good shape,” the manager said before the game on Nov. 11. A player of Ryu’s caliber shouldn’t have any problems with his body. Of course, he will be stressed. You can’t pitch 30 games and be good in every game, but there are days when you get hit hard, and it can come sooner or later. Ryu’s struggles have cost the team games, but he believes that’s okay because if he pitches well, he can go on a winning streak.”
And the ‘Ace’ certainly lived up to his commander’s unwavering trust. Ryu started the game by striking out three Doosan batters in the first inning. In the second inning, he gave up a walk to Yang Seok-hwan with the bases loaded but got out of the inning without allowing an earned run, and in the third inning, he again pitched a shutout with two strikeouts. Ryu looked shaky in the fourth inning, as he did in the second, giving up a walk with the bases loaded, but he continued his solid no-hitter.
Ryu’s no-hitter was broken up in the fifth inning. However, Ryu finally got the win he needed as he shut down the Doosan bats with a scoreless inning. He took the mound again in the sixth inning. Ryu worked around an error by right fielder Jonathan Peraza, but retired Doosan’s most potent lineup of Yang Ji-ji and Kim Jae-hwan. Ryu’s solid pitching spurred the offense on, and Hanwha was able to hold onto the 3-0 lead until the end of the game, finally snapping the losing streak.
The win was Ryu’s first in the KBO since September 25, 2012, against Jamsil Doosan, a whopping 4,216 days after his first win of the season and the 99th of his career. It was 메이저사이트 also an invaluable victory that broke a five-game losing streak that began against the Kiwoom Heroes on May 5.
After the game, manager Choi Won-ho said, “Ryu Hyun-jin pitched a perfect game, shutting down the opposing batters and ending the team’s losing streak with his first win back. It was a seasoned pitcher,” he said, giving the Korean Monster a thumbs-up for his flawless pitching, “and in the bullpen, Jang Si-hwan, Han Seung-hyuk, and Joo Hyun-sang secured the victory with good relief.”
He also praised the batting lineup. “I would like to praise Ahn Chi-hong for his batting, he is a player who quietly fulfills his role,” the manager said, adding, “He has been in good form lately, and today, when the team needed him, he was able to contribute to the victory with good hitting.”