Hanwha won 10-6 against SSG of the KBO League in the last game of three consecutive games during the 2024 season held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Sunday. Starting pitcher Moon Dong-ju became the winning pitcher by striking out five and allowing two runs in five innings. The home run king, Noh Si-hwan, hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and exploded 15 hits in the first and second innings, displaying a strong batting performance. 안전놀이터
Hanwha succeeded in sweeping all three consecutive games of the Incheon SSG. It is the first time in 18 years that Hanwha had swept three consecutive games against the SSG (including its predecessor SK) in an away match against the Incheon SSG since May 16-18, 2006. The date is 65-24, when Hanwha went down to Daejeon in a good mood after sweeping the game, and will now play its opening game at home.
Hanwha is ranking second by itself with four wins and one loss. It is unfamiliar. It is the first time in 18 years that Hanwha recorded four wins and one loss in its opening five games since 2006. That is the year Ryu joined the Hanwha Eagles. When Ryu returned to his former team Hanwha after 12 years from playing in the U.S. Big League, he recorded four wins and one loss in his opening five games again.
The only loss among the four wins and one loss was Ryu's record of losing the game. Ryu became a losing pitcher in the opening game against LG on Sunday. He was substituted in the middle of the fourth inning, and allowed six hits, three walks, and five runs (two earned) during three ⅔ innings, and became a losing pitcher
I was nervous at the opening game as well as the return game for the first time in 12 years. I threw a maximum fastball of 150 kilometers, but my ball control was not good. Ryu's flagship weapon changeup, as well as pinpoint control and cornerwork utilization, which are his strongest points, were not displayed properly. While he mainly pitched fastballs, he was overwhelmed by LG batters' contact and concentration. Despite the infielders' critical errors, he failed to garner any strikeouts and allowed all five runs after two outs, which was regrettable.
Ironically, after Ryu Hyun-jin's defeat, Hanwha won four consecutive games with all the other starting pitchers doing their part, and the batters and bullpen also cheered up. Starting with the second starter Peña, Kim Min-woo, Sanchez, and Moon Dong-ju won a pleasant start in their first appearance of the season. Before Ryu Hyun-jin left for the U.S., there were many Ryu Hyun-jin losses, but there were few Ryu Hyun-jin wins.
"I wanted to continue the good flow. The starting pitchers threw so well that I prepared well," Moon said after the game. "Our starting pitchers are throwing so well right now, and I want to continue the good atmosphere. Since I threw so well at the end, I threw hard so that I can continue the good atmosphere and continue the good atmosphere to Hyunjin again," he said.
Now it's Ryu's turn. The opening game at Daejeon's home ground has already been sold out, and tickets for the third consecutive game at home have already been sold out. Ryu is aiming for his first win at the KBO League in 4,203 days since his win at the Doosan Bears on Sept. 25, 2012. Above all, the four other starting pitchers have all won, and Ryu alone has to make up for the fact that he has one loss.
If Ryu displays his original strength of ball control in a stable manner, good results can be expected. After losing the opening game, Ryu emphasized his control. "I had good fastballs in the beginning. The one that I was hit (by a hit) at the end was driven to the center. I was disappointed about my breaking ball control," Ryu said. "As expected, it was a game where a pitcher felt once again that his control was important. I felt once again that the ball control is not that important. I need to pay more attention to my ball control and throw it."
"After all, I think I am controlling the ball. Even if I throw 150 kilometers, it is useless because Korean hitters have contact capability. I think I will get better results if I cornerwork with controlling the ball even if it's early 140 kilometers," he stressed. Attention is focusing on whether Ryu, who once said, "I feel like I got a vaccination shot," will be able to give home fans a victory.