Williams + Lee Jin-young ‘Two-run Four’, Moon Dong-joo pitched two runs in five innings, Jang Si-hwan’s first save of the season…First consecutive win in the second half against Hanwha Kiwoom
Hanwha in professional baseball beat Kiwoom after a neck-and-neck race to win its first consecutive victory in the second half.
Hanwha beat Kiwoom 5-4 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 26th after a neck-and-neck race that lasted until the 10th inning of extra time.
Kiwoom scored the first run. Foreign batter Ronnie Dawson pulled Hanwha starter Moon Dong-joo’s 153km/h fastball in the bottom of the first inning with two outs and hit a first solo shot over the right fence. This is the second time in two games since the match against Lotte in Sajik on the 23rd.
Hanwha immediately fought back. The vanguard was Nick Williams, who hit a “multi-hit” against Kiwoom the previous day. Williams hit a 122km/h curve that was driven to the center of Kiwoom starter Ian McKinney at the top of the second inning with two outs and a runner on first base, leading to a superior two-run shot. It is the second time in 11 games since the match against Daegu Samsung on the 30th of last month.
In the top of the third inning, Lee Jin-young took over Williams’ energy. Lee Jin-young drew a two-run arch in the middle by aiming for McKinney’s 136km/h lower cutter at first base with no outs. Lee Jin-young, who hit a three-run shot against Kiwoom the previous day, tasted his hands for two consecutive games.
Kiwoom’s batters showed concentration in the bottom of the eighth inning, when they were being dragged 2-4. Leadoff hitter Kim Hye-sung hit a heavy hit against Hanwha Pilseungjo Kim Bum-soo. Dawson hit consecutive hits to the right of the left fielder to send Kim Hye-sung to third base. An opportunity to first and third base with no outs made in an instant. Hanwha hurriedly raised closer Park Sang-won, but Lee Won-seok’s timely hit made it close by one point. Dawson, who went to third base during this time, scored a tie on Joo Sung-won’s sacrifice fly to return the game to square one.
Extra time after nine innings without any additional points. In the top of the 10th inning, the game was once again up and down. Leadoff hitter Williams succeeded in getting on base due to an opponent shortstop error, and Jung Eun-won made a clean heavy hit against changed pitcher Kim Dong-hyuk to create a chance to first and second base with no outs. Follow-up hitter Ha Joo-seok’s well-hit ball was blocked by right fielder Lee Hyung-jong’s good defense and the flow was cut off once, but Lee Jin-young calmly picked up a walk and made it a full base with one out. 토토
As pinch hitter Kim In-hwan struck out swinging, the opportunity was handed back to Roh Si-hwan. After a persistent full-count match with Kim Dong-hyuk, Noh Si-hwan got a walk and gave the team a valuable come-from-behind score. Since then, Chae Eun-sung has stepped down with a ground ball to third base, and no additional points have been scored.
Hanwha’s closer was Jang Si-hwan, who became the winning pitcher the previous day and ended his 19th consecutive individual loss. Jang Si-hwan kept the bottom of the 10th inning without losing a point and harvested his first save of the season with his team’s victory.
Starter Moon Dong-joo pitched 84 pitches in five innings, including 44 curves (20), sliders (18), and changeups (2), including a maximum speed of 157km/h, and pitched well with six hits (1 home run), two outs, and one strikeout and two runs, but failed to win.
Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho said after the game, “Moon Dong-joo played his part as a starting pitcher, and Joo Hyun-sang and Jang Si-hwan’s good pitching became a stepping stone to victory in the bullpen,” adding, “It was a difficult game, but we were able to win thanks to all the players’ best efforts to the end.”