'Jung Woo-ju's stellar start and three home runs explode' Hanwha silences '158㎞ 7K' An Woo-jin... 10-1 rout over Kiwoom, 'climbing to joint 6th' [Gocheok Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The highly anticipated starting card of Jung Woo-ju (Hanwha Eagles) hit the mark this time. He toppled the league's top ace, An Woo-jin (Kiwoom Heroes), and secured a valuable victory.

On the 14th, Hanwha defeated Kiwoom Heroes 10-1 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, led by Jung Woo-ju's strong pitching and three home runs.

With this win, Hanwha, now 18-21, moved up one spot to tie with the Doosan Bears, who lost that day, for joint 6th place. Meanwhile, Kiwoom remained in last place with a record of 14-24-1.

Hanwha's lineup was arranged as follows: Hwang Young-mok (second baseman), Yonatan Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Lee Do-yoon (shortstop), and Lee Won-seok (center fielder). Jung Woo-ju was the starting pitcher.

Kiwoom's lineup consisted of Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Ahn Chi-hong (second baseman), Choi Ju-hwan (first baseman), Im Byung-wook (right fielder), Trenton Brooks (left fielder), Park Ju-hong (center fielder), Kim Geon-hee (catcher), Choi Jae-young (third baseman), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop).

The key to the day was Jung Woo-ju's pitching in a showdown against the league's strongest starter, An Woo-jin. Before the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon said, "When I send out a starter, I always hope they can pitch five innings," and added, "I think Woo-ju will pitch well today. The pitch count will be decided in consultation with the pitching coach as the innings progress."

He expressed the expectation that facing An Woo-jin would actually serve as a stimulant for Jung Woo-ju. Manager Kim stated, "I actually think Woo-ju will pitch even better."

It lived up to expectations. In his first start of the season, he struggled with control, allowing four walks and two runs before being pulled early after just 1⅔ innings, but today he effectively shut down Kiwoom's lineup.

He started the bottom of the 1st inning with three consecutive outs and added two strikeouts in the 2nd, neutralizing Kiwoom's lineup with dominant pitching. He again retired the side in order in the 3rd.

In the 4th, he faced bad luck. After allowing a hit-by-pitch to leadoff hitter Ahn Chi-hong, he got Choi Ju-hwan to fly out to right field and Im Byung-wook to fly out to shortstop, then faced Trenton Brooks in right field. Brooks hit a high fly ball after a full count, targeting a 149㎞ high fastball. Right fielder Peraza, who rushed in calling the catch, failed to make the play. Meanwhile, Ahn Chi-hong, who had taken an early lead, scored from first base. He then retired Park Ju-hong to fly out to center field and finished his outing.

He threw 71 pitches, far exceeding his personal high of 54 pitches in a start against Kiwoom on September 15 last year, before handing the ball to Park Jun-young in the 5th.

Hanwha's lineup took advantage of An Woo-jin with quick at-bats. In the 2nd, Noh Si-hwan and Heo In-seo both attacked the first pitch, resulting in a double and a sacrifice single with an RBI, respectively.

They retired the side in order in the 3rd and 4th, but seized the opportunity again in the 5th. Kim Tae-yeon, with a 1-1 count, hit a 140㎞ slider over the left-field wall for a go-ahead solo home run. It was his second home run of the season and the first home run An Woo-jin had allowed this season.

Lee Do-yoon followed with a double. On Lee Won-seok's bunt, An Woo-jin threw to third base, but both the batter and the runner were safe. With two outs and runners on first and third, Peraza hit a ground ball to first base. Choi Ju-hwan threw home, but Lee Do-yoon scored, extending the lead.

An Woo-jin was pulled after the 5th, and Hanwha's lineup added more power in the scheduled 8th. After hits from Kang Baek-ho and Heo In-seo, Lee Do-yoon hit a two-run triple off Jo Young-geon with two outs and runners on first and third. Lee Won-seok then hit a go-ahead two-run home run over the left-field wall, his first of the season.

After Jung Woo-ju, Hanwha's bullpen completely shut down Kiwoom's lineup. Park Jun-young allowed only one walk over 1⅔ innings for a no-hit performance, and Lee Min-woo, who entered in the 6th with two outs, threw a perfect 1⅓ innings.

In the bottom of the 8th, Jo Dong-wook took the mound and started nervously after allowing two walks, but he cleanly retired the next three batters without allowing any runs.

The lineup added more fire in the top of the 9th. With one out, Oh Jae-won reached second base on an error, followed by Noh Si-hwan's RBI double. Heo In-seo then hit a two-run home run (his eighth of the season) off Kim Yun-ha. In the bottom of the 9th, Jack Cushing entered and retired the side in order to close the game.

Jung Woo-ju, who started and pitched 4 innings, threw 73 pitches, allowing one hit, two walks, striking out four, and giving up one run in a strong performance. Park Jun-young, who entered in the 5th, earned his first career win.

An Woo-jin threw 74 pitches over 5 innings, allowing five hits (including one home run), no walks, and three runs, taking his second loss of the season (1-1). His ERA rose from 1.80 to 2.70.

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*This content was translated by AI.