"Defeated at Gocheok, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated, Defeated" — Hanwha's nightmare ends with Park Jeong-hoon's first career starting win... Park Ju-hong's super catch helped [Gocheok On-site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The long-standing nightmare with the Hanwha Eagles was erased. With Park Jeong-hoon's outstanding pitching, the bullpen's performance, and defensive efforts all coming together, the Kiwoom Heroes snapped their 10-game losing streak against Hanwha at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Kiwoom defeated Hanwha Eagles 3-2 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held on the 13th at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul.

Kiwoom secured the victory on this day, finishing with 14 wins, 24 losses, and 1 draw. After suffering 10 consecutive losses against Hanwha since last year, they finally claimed a win at Gocheok. Meanwhile, Hanwha, which had been on a three-game winning streak, recorded 17 wins and 21 losses, dropping one spot to seventh place.

On this day, Kiwoom arranged its lineup as follows: Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Ahn Chi-hong (second baseman), Choi Ju-hwan (first baseman), Im Byung-wook (outfielder), Trenton Brooks (left fielder), Park Ju-hong (center fielder), Yang Hyeon-jong (third baseman), Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop), and Park Sung-bin (catcher). The starting pitcher was Park Jeong-hoon.

Hanwha lined up with Hwang Young-mok at second base, Yonatan Peraza in right field, Moon Hyun-bin in left field, Kang Baek-ho as the designated hitter, Noh Si-hwan at third base, Heo In-seo as the catcher, Kim Tae-yeon at first base, Lee Won-seok in center field, and Sim Woo-jun at shortstop. Wilkel Hernandez started on the mound.

Kiwoom lost both of the opening two games and also lost the previous day after allowing 11 runs. Manager Seol Jong-jin said, "It seems they hit particularly well against us," and noted that Baek Dong-hyun, who faced his former team, left a regrettable impression with his unusual pitching. Kim Kyung-moon acknowledged Kiwoom's strong performance in the game, stating, "It seems the batters focus well when they come here."

The day was different. Kiwoom gathered strength from the start, making temporary starter Park Jeong-hoon's arm feel light. In the bottom of the first inning, Seo Geon-chang reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and consecutive hits by Choi Ju-hwan and Im Byung-wook scored one run. Another run escaped due to Hanwha's baffling error.

In the fourth inning, after Park Ju-hong's hit, consecutive hits by pinch-hitters Kim Woong-bin and Park Sung-bin added another run.

On the mound, Park Jeong-hun delivered a performance exceeding expectations. In the first and second innings, with two outs and runners on first and second, he escaped the crises by inducing infield grounders from Noh Si-hwan and Hwang Young-mok, and recording a strikeout via a look.

In the third and fourth innings, he recorded consecutive three-up, three-down innings based on aggressive pitching. In the fifth, he allowed a walk to leadoff batter Lee Won-seok but induced a double play from Sim Woo-jun to clear the bases, and recorded a strikeout against Hwang Young-mok with an outside slider, securing the victory condition.

Park Jeong-hoon, who also appeared in the sixth inning, was relieved with one out and runners on second and third. Kim Sung-jin, who followed, allowed a walk, loading the bases, but recorded a swinging strikeout of Heo In-seo and induced a fielder's choice grounder to the second baseman from Kim Tae-yeon, preserving a three-run lead. In the seventh inning, Park Jin-hyeong appeared and held the line scoreless for one inning.

In the eighth inning, the team faced another crisis. Won Jong-hyun, who had just announced his 32nd career appearance in 600 games in the KBO, took the mound but immediately allowed three consecutive hits to Kang Baek-ho, Noh Si-hwan, and Heo In-seo in the first inning. Heo In-seo's hit appeared to be catchable by third baseman Yang Hyeon-jong, making the outcome even more frustrating. After striking out Lee Jin-young, Won Jong-hyun gave up another RBI single to Lee Won-seok and was eventually replaced by Yuto Kanakubo.

In a crisis situation on the mound, Yuto was hit by a line drive to right field off Sim Woo-jun. Park Ju-hong, who had moved from center field to right field ahead of the eighth inning, saved the team. Quickly chasing the ball, Park Ju-hong leaped to catch the hit and preserved the lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with one out and runners on first and third, the opportunity was not capitalized on, and the game moved to the top of the ninth. Yuto returned to the mound, striking out Lee Do-yoon and Ferrara, and then recorded Moon Hyun-bin on a fly ball to left field, securing his seventh save of the season.

Park Jeong-hoon, who pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing 3 hits, issuing 4 walks or hit-by-pitches, and recording 4 strikeouts in a scoreless performance, improved his record to 2 wins (1 loss, 6 holds) for the season and lowered his ERA from 4.15 to 3.18.

Meanwhile, Hanwha's Hernandez made his first appearance in 12 days, throwing 81 pitches over 3⅔ innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, striking out 6, and giving up 3 runs (2 earned), taking the loss for his third defeat of the season (3 wins).

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*This content was translated by AI.