'Kim Joo-won upset final 3 points + Ryu Hyun-jin 2 perfect innings' National team wins 5-2 against Hanwha [Okinawa Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), won its first dramatic victory with a three-run turnaround by shortstop Kim Joo-won (24, NC Dinos) in the last inning.

The national team beat the Hanwha Eagles 5-2 in the second practice game compared to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at Kochinda Baseball Stadium in Yase, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan on the 21st.

The national team, which recorded a 3-4 defeat against the Samsung Lions on the previous day (20th), won its first victory over Hanwha. Regardless of the victory or defeat, the team went on to attack in the top of the seventh inning. National team pitchers ended the inning after the at-bat when they exceeded 20 pitches per inning, and Hanwha pitchers did not set a limit on the number of pitches.

As the game progressed like the previous day, the national team's performance was revived. In particular, No. 9 hitter Kim Joo-won set the stage for a come-from-behind victory by making three hits in three at-bats (one home run) with three RBIs and two runs. Kim Joo-won came out as a leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth inning when he was losing 0-2, creating a chance for third base with no outs with his fast feet. There was a defensive error by Hanwha left fielder Jonathan Peraza, but even at a relatively short distance, Kim Joo-won reached third base leisurely without sliding.

In the top of the seventh inning, when the score was 2–2, he showed off his potential as a big guns shortstop. Hanwha left-hander Hwang Jun-seo is on the verge of first and second bases with no outs with two consecutive walks. Kim Joo-won, who appeared at the batter's box, hit the driven ball as it was and hit the left fence net to make a home run. In addition, Moon Bo-kyung was in good condition with two hits in three at-bats.

It was also encouraging to check the pitchers' good physical condition. Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to the national team for the first time in 16 years, perfectly blocked two innings (18 pitches) with a slow fastball of up to 142 kilometers per hour.

Hanwha was disappointed with its defensive error at the end of the game. Hanwha starter Wang Yancheng raised expectations with a fast ball of up to 149km/h with one hit and no strikeouts in two innings. Park Joon-young, who took the mound afterwards, threw a fastball of up to 149km/h and Park Jae-kyu 147km/h, and Kwon Min-gyu completely blocked one inning with a total of 10 balls (5 change-ups, 4 fastballs, 1 curveball). However, Hwang Jun-seo, who took the mound in the seventh inning, allowed a turnaround, including a three-run home run.

On this day, the national team consisted of Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Ahn Hyun-min (right wing), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (first baseman), Koo Ja-wook (left wing), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Moon Hyun-bin (middle fielder), Kim Hyung-joon (poster), and Kim Joo-won (striker).

Against this, Hanwha formed a lineup of Lee Won-seok (center fielder), Jonathan Ferraza (right wing), Kang Baek-ho (first baseman), Chae Eun-sung (designated hitter), Han Ji-yoon (left wing), Ha Joo-seok (second baseman), Lee Do-yoon (third baseman), Heo In-seo (captor), and Shim Woo-jun (striker). The starting pitcher was Taiwanese left-hander Wang Yancheng (25).

The rare showdown between starting pitchers of Hanwha was tight. First, Wang Yancheng turned Shin Min-jae, the first batter, into a fly ball to left field in the first inning. Wang Yancheng, who struck out Ahn Hyun-min with a swing and miss, handled Kim Do-young with a ground ball to shortstop to create a clean three-out inning. He got his first hit by Moon Bo-kyung in the second inning. However, Koo Ja-wook finished the game without losing a point by fouling the first baseman, Roh Si-hwan grounded out to the second base, and Moon Hyun-bin with a fly ball to center field.

Ryu Hyun-jin also cooked his former team's batters with spectacular pitches. Ryu Hyun-jin, who struck out the leadoff hitter Lee Won-seok with a swing and miss in the bottom of the first inning, grounded out to second base and handled Kang Baek-ho with a fly ball to center field. The first pitch to Peraza was a slow curveball of 80 kilometers per hour, embarrassing the batter. In the second inning, Ryu Hyun-jin also caught Chae Eun-sung, Han Ji-yoon and Ha Joo-seok with ground balls, straight hits, and blocked two perfect innings.

It was Hanwha's first run. In the bottom of the fourth inning, leadoff hitter Lee Won-seok advanced to first base due to Kim Joo-won's throwing error. Peraza's infield hit and Kang Baek-ho's fly ball to center field made the first and third bases with one out, and Chae Eun-sung made Hanwha's 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to right field. Han Ji-yoon then hit an RBI timely hit to make it 2-0.

The national team's batting lineup also broke out late. Leading hitter Kim Joo-won opened the game with a hit in front of right field in the top of the sixth inning, losing 0-2. At this time, Hanwha right fielder Peraza failed to make a sliding catch and headed to third base. Here, Ahn Hyun-min chased down a point with an RBI timely hit, and Kim Do-young continued the atmosphere with a heavy hit.

Moon Bo-kyung completed the multi-hit game with a hit to the right, and Koo Ja-wook scored a timely hit to tie the game 2-2. On top of that, Kim Joo-won hit a come-from-behind three-run in the top of the seventh inning to mark his first victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.