'On Chairman Ryu Hyun-jin's Day, SSG's Ruthless Bombing: 14-3 Rout Over Hanwha... Kim Geon-woo Rides to Fourth Consecutive Win [Daejeon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The tense match was decided in an instant. SSG Landers, who dismantled Hanwha Eagles ace Ryu Hyun-jin, secured their second consecutive victory and a third straight winning series.

On the 30th, SSG recorded a decisive 14-3 victory over Hanwha Eagles in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark.

With two consecutive wins, SSG improved to 17 wins and 10 losses, narrowing the gap with KT Wiz, who lost that day, to 1.5 games and maintained joint second place. Meanwhile, Hanwha suffered two straight losses, finishing with 11 wins and 16 losses.

For Hanwha, a victory was essential. It was a game featuring ace Ryu Hyun-jin, and Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon visited the stadium for the first time this season. Kim Seung-yeon (Chairman) even presented a special fireworks show during the cleaning time to please fans who had suffered their 16th consecutive defeat of the season, but Hanwha could not suppress SSG's batting lineup and was left with a painful loss.

SSG lined up Park Sung-han (shortstop), An Sang-hyun (second baseman), Choi Jung (third baseman), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Han Yu-seom (designated hitter), Kim Sung-wook (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), and Jo Hyung-woo (catcher). Kim Geon-woo was the starting pitcher.

Hanwha countered with Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Yonatan Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-seong (first baseman), Ha Joo-seok (second baseman), Lee Do-yoon (shortstop), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Lee Won-seok (center fielder). Ryu Hyun-jin started on the mound.

A premium pitching duel unfolded between Ryu Hyun-jin and Kim Geon-woo. Ryu Hyun-jin pitched a perfect game through the fifth inning, throwing just 67 pitches and recording four strikeouts. SSG's batting lineup could not find a solution against Ryu Hyun-jin's precise control and diverse repertoire.

Kim Geon-woo also performed well. He allowed one run in the second inning with one out, giving up a double to Ha Joo-seok and a hit to the right side to Choi Jae-hoon, but he held firm without major trouble until the fifth inning.

In the sixth inning, SSG cracked the calm game. Choi Ji-hoon successfully executed a surprise bunt that caught Hanwha's infielders off guard. Ryu Hyun-jin, whose perfect game ended in vain, began to waver quickly. SSG hit three consecutive singles from Oh Tae-gon, Jo Hyung-woo, and Park Sung-han to take a 2-1 lead. After An Sang-hyun's sacrifice bunt, Choi Jung was awarded an automatic intentional walk to load the bases, and Heredia followed with a two-run single.

A fatal fielding error by Hanwha gave SSG the momentum. With one out and runners on second and third, Ryu Hyun-jin's pitch bounced, allowing first baseman Heredia to break for second base. Choi Jung, the runner on second, also started running for third base late. Hanwha catcher Choi Jae-hoon quickly threw the ball to third base. Although the timing was sufficient to record an out, the throw was errant, and Choi Jung safely reached third base. Ryu Hyun-jin induced a fielder's choice grounder from Choi Jun-woo to get the runner out at home, but he then surrendered a two-run single to Choi Ji-hoon and was subsequently removed from the game.

Kim Geon-woo earned the win. In the sixth inning, Kim Geon-woo, who returned to the mound, gave up a walk and a hit with two outs before handing the ball to Kim Min, but he finished the inning with a strikeout and did not allow any additional runs.

In the top of the seventh, SSG seized a bases-loaded opportunity with one out after Park Sung-han walked, An Sang-hyun was hit by a pitch, and Choi Jung walked. Heredia then added another run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Hanwha also did not miss their chance in the bottom of the seventh. Pitcher Kim Min left the mound with one out and the bases loaded after a walk, a hit, and another walk following two outs. Facing reliever Noh Kyung-eun, Noh Si-hwan hit a two-run single to close the gap.

However, SSG did not allow any further comebacks. In the top of the eighth, Ju Hyun-sang, who had been called up that day, entered the game. SSG capitalized on a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity created by Choi Jun-woo's hit and an opponent's error. Oh Tae-gon hit a sacrifice fly for one run, followed by Park Sung-han's walk. Then, pinch-hitter Jung Jun-jae delivered a one-run single to the right side, and Choi Jung hit a three-run home run over the left-field fence, sealing the victory. This was his seventh home run of the season and extended his all-time KBO home run record to 525.

In the top of the ninth, SSG started with an infield hit from Choi Jun-woo. With two outs, Jo Hyung-woo and Park Sung-han walked to load the bases, and Jung Jun-jae hit a two-run single to widen the score gap further.

Kim Geon-woo threw 98 pitches over 5⅔ innings, allowing five hits, three walks, four strikeouts, and one earned run, delivering a strong performance that secured his fourth consecutive win of the season. His ERA dropped significantly from 3.60 to 3.23.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who collapsed after throwing 30 pitches in the sixth inning, allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits, two walks, and four strikeouts over 5⅔ innings, throwing 97 pitches. He took his second loss of the season (two wins) and saw his ERA surge from 2.96 to 3.60.

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*This content was translated by AI.