'Final appearance' Cushing allows one run in one inning, earns tense save; Hanwha, led by Yonatan Peraza and Moon Hyun-bin home runs, defeats KT 5-3 for second consecutive win [Suwon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hanwha's dynamite lineup refuses to cool down. The Hanwha Eagles, backed by two massive home runs, defeated first-place KT Wiz and secured their second consecutive victory.

On the 15th, Hanwha defeated KT 5-3 in a road game at Suwon KT Wiz Park as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

With this win, sixth-place Hanwha improved to 19 wins and 21 losses, moving closer to a .500 winning percentage. Meanwhile, KT, now in a two-game losing streak, fell to 24 wins, 1 draw, and 15 losses, putting their top spot in jeopardy.

The turning point came in the top of the eighth inning when Hanwha led 3-2. Han Seung-hyuk, who had been traded from Hanwha to KT as compensation for Kang Baek-ho, took the mound. Sim Woo-jun reached base on a walk, and when Lee Do-yun hit a ground ball, there was one out with runners on second base. In Yonatan Peraza's at-bat, Han Seung-hyuk's wild pitch put runners on first and third with one out. A 150 km/h fastball was thrown right down the middle. Peraza did not miss, sending the ball far over the right-field fence to seal the game.

In the pitching duel, KT initially had the upper hand. KT's Ko Young-pyo pitched seven innings, allowing five hits (one home run), no walks, striking out ten batters, and giving up three earned runs, achieving a Quality Start Plus (seven innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs). However, due to the offense's silence, Ko became the losing pitcher. Hanwha's Wang Yencheng pitched five innings, allowing five hits, four walks/hit-by-pitches (three walks, one hit-by-pitch), striking out eight batters, and giving up two earned runs, escaping the loss. Jack Cushing, making his final appearance for Hanwha, came in the ninth inning, allowed one run, and earned a tense save for a successful conclusion.

The game was decided by the core lineup. Hanwha's second hitter, Peraza, went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBIs. Third hitter Moon Hyun-bin also went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBIs, delivering key hits in crucial situations. Shortstop Sim Woo-jun contributed with two hits in two at-bats, one RBI, one run scored, one walk, and one stolen base, while also making strong defensive plays to help secure the team's victory.

KT's ninth hitter Lee Kang-min went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one strikeout. First hitter Choi Won-jun went 3-for-4, and second hitter Kim Sang-su went 2-for-5, providing solid offensive support. However, the cleanup trio went 2-for-13 with one walk and remained silent, leading to their defeat.

On this day, Hanwha lined up with Lee Do-yun (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 Won-seok (center fielder), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Wang Yencheng was the starting pitcher.

In response, KT lined up with Choi Won-jun (right fielder), Kim Sang-su (second baseman), Kim Hyun-su (first baseman), Sam Hilliard (left fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Jang Sung-woo (designated hitter), Bae Jung-dae (center fielder), Han Seung-taek (catcher), and Lee Kang-min (shortstop). Ko Young-pyo was the starting pitcher.

The first run belonged to the home team, KT. In the bottom of the second inning, leadoff hitter Heo Kyung-min reached base on a walk. Jang Sung-woo and Bae Jung-dae were retired on consecutive strikeouts, and Han Seung-taek reached base on a walk. Lee Kang-min then broke the 0-0 tie with a two-run single to center field.

Hanwha responded with a two-run home run by Moon Hyun-bin. In the top of the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first, while trailing 0-1, Moon Hyun-bin connected with Ko Young-pyo's high fastball and sent it far over the right-field fence. This was his eighth home run of the season, traveling 125.3 meters.

However, KT also tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning. With a walk by Jang Sung-woo and an error by the opponent creating a one-out, runners on first and second, Lee Kang-min hit a two-run single to center field. Later, Choi Won-jun's single to center and Kim Sang-su's infield hit loaded the bases, but Kim Hyun-su was retired on a fly ball to left field, a missed opportunity.

Hanwha's focus, riding a three-game winning streak, was no less intense. In the top of the fifth inning, with Hanwha trailing 2-3, leadoff hitter Heo In-seo reached base on a single to left field after eight pitches in a 0-ball, 2-strike count. Heo advanced to second base on Kim Tae-yeon's sacrifice bunt. When Sim Woo-jun hit a single to first base, Heo scored. Heo did not miss the chance as first baseman Kim Hyun-su failed to field Sim's hit, allowing the ball to roll into the outfield. Hanwha took a 3-2 lead.

The rally did not end there. In the top of the eighth inning with Hanwha leading 3-2, two outs, and runners on third base, Peraza did not miss Han Seung-hyuk's inside pitch, sending it far over the right-field fence. This was his seventh home run of the season, traveling 132.9 meters.

KT also seized their last chance against Jack Cushing, who was making his final appearance for Hanwha. Trailing 2-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch-hitter Yoo Jun-gyu hit a single to left field, and Choi Won-jun hit a single to right field, creating a one-out, runners on first and second situation. Kim Sang-su hit into a double play, and Kim Hyun-su hit a two-run single to right field to cut the deficit to one run. However, Hilliard's hit was stopped by a great defensive play by the second baseman, sealing KT's defeat.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.