Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin failed to win his first game back.
Hanwha lost 7-11 to Kiwoom in the 2024 KBO League on Friday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
After pitching well through four scoreless innings, Ryu gave up seven runs in the fifth inning when he was hit by consecutive singles with runners on first and third. Trailing 4-7, he was hit by a pitch with runners on first and third.
Kim Seo-hyun came in and allowed the two runners Ryu left on base to score, increasing the deficit to nine runs. He allowed nine runs on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. It was a career-high for runs allowed.
Conversely, Kiwoom sent 16 batters to the plate in the fifth inning to explode for a nine-hit, 10-run big inning, tying the team record for most consecutive batters reaching base (eight).
In the bottom of the fifth, Kim Jae-hyun’s RBI double with runners on first and third gave way to Park Soo-jong’s RBI single to left and Lee Joo-hyung’s RBI single to center. 안전놀이터 추천 The improbable happened. After giving up the tying run to Dawson, Ryu smirked as he went into a backup play.
Ryu’s hysterical laughter continued.
A walk to Kim Hye-sung and a single to right by Choi Joo-hwan loaded the bases. The batting order rotated and Kim Hwijip stepped to the plate for the second time in the fifth inning. Kim hit a first-pitch double that dropped in front of the center fielder, prompting the pitching coach to take the mound and announce a change.
An unbelievable situation. But Ryu was not disappointed. In the dugout, he wiped the sweat off his brow, checked his pitching data, and prepared for the next pitch.
Hanwha’s offense didn’t give up, rallying to within three runs in the seventh inning, but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
In his last game before moving to the United States, on Oct. 4, 2012, against Daejeon Nexen (now Kiwoom), Ryu pitched 10 innings and allowed one run on four hits (one homer) with 12 strikeouts, but left without a win. His career wins stalled at 98.
Let’s hope he gets his smile back with his first win.