Ryu Hyun-jin has forgotten how to lose, securing his fifth consecutive win while holding Lotte Giants to just three hits [Busan On-the-Ground Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Hanwha Eagles, led by their undisputed ace Ryu Hyun-jin (39), subdued the Lotte Giants.

On the 5th, Hanwha secured a decisive 9-2 victory over the Lotte Giants in a visiting game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League held at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, thanks to Ryu Hyun-jin's outstanding pitching.

With the win, Hanwha snapped its two-game losing streak and improved its record to 28 wins, 27 losses, and 1 tie, maintaining sole possession of fifth place. Meanwhile, Lotte remained in ninth place with a record of 22 wins, 33 losses, and 1 tie.

Hanwha set its starting lineup with Lee Jin-young (center fielder), Yonatan Peraza (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Yoo Min (designated hitter), Kim Tae-yeon (first baseman), Lee Do-yoon (second baseman), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Ryu Hyun-jin was the starting pitcher.

Lotte countered with Hwang Sung-bin (left fielder), Go Seung-min (second baseman), Victor Reyes (designated hitter), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), Kim Min-seong (third baseman), Son Ho-young (center fielder), Jeon Min-jae (shortstop), Son Seong-bin (catcher), and Jo Se-jin (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Alvin Rodriguez, who returned from injury.

Ryu Hyun-jin's pitching stood out. He retired all three batters in the bottom of the first inning with pitcher's grounders and pitched cleanly through the third inning. He faced misfortune in the fourth. Although he struck out Go Seung-min, he failed to record an out. Catcher Choi Jae-hoon failed to field the ball, allowing Go Seung-min to reach base on a strikeout that was not an out. He seemed to catch his breath by inducing a ground ball to the shortstop from Reyes to retire the lead runner, but with two outs and a runner on first, Moon Hyun-bin failed to field a ball hit to the left side by Kim Min-seong, allowing the runner from first to score.

Nevertheless, he remained steady and retired the side in order in the fifth. Hanwha's lineup, which had taken an early lead in the top of the third with two outs thanks to Peraza's hit and Moon Hyun-bin's RBI triple, faced a tied score after a costly defensive lapse in the fourth. They regained momentum in the top of the fifth. Even with a 1-2 count, Peraza powerfully connected with an outside curveball clocked at 130 km/h, launching a solo home run to the left-field stands. His 11th home run of the season gave Hanwha a 2-1 lead.

The game tilted further in the sixth. Leadoff batter Noh Si-hwan singled to left field. With a runner on first, Kim Tae-yeon and Lee Do-yoon hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Lotte first baseman Na Seung-yeop dove to field a ground ball hit by Choi Jae-hoon and threw home, but Noh Si-hwan's foot was faster. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kang Baek-ho appeared as a pinch hitter for Lee Jin-young. Lotte brought in Hong Min-gi to replace Rodriguez, who had exceeded 100 pitches. After a full-count battle, the result was a bases-loaded walk. Peraza then hit a double down the left-field line, allowing two more runners to score. The score quickly expanded to 6-1.

Ryu Hyun-jin, who had thrown only 63 pitches through five innings, took the mound again in the sixth. After Sim Woo-jun committed a fielding error with two outs, he allowed a double to Na Seung-yeop and an additional run, though this was not charged to Ryu Hyun-jin as an earned run. He retired Kim Min-seong on a swinging strikeout and completed the sixth inning.

Hanwha's lineup continued to steadily add runs, quelling Lotte's pursuit. In the seventh, with two outs, Kim Tae-yeon hit a double and scored on Hyun Do-hoon's consecutive wild pitches, rounding third and crossing home plate. In the eighth, following a hit-by-pitch to Choi Jae-hoon, Sim Woo-jun's double, and an automatic intentional walk to Peraza to load the bases with one out, Moon Hyun-bin hit a sacrifice fly to left field, adding another run. In the top of the ninth, after Heo In-seo walked and Kim Tae-yeon doubled, Choi Jae-hoon's ground ball to the shortstop scored another run.

Hanwha activated its bullpen from the seventh inning. Park Sang-won, Lee Sang-gyu, and Park Jun-young each pitched a clean inning to secure the victory.

Ryu Hyun-jin threw 86 pitches over six innings, allowing three hits with no walks and two strikeouts, while surrendering two unearned runs. He delivered a perfect outing, securing his fifth consecutive win and his seventh victory of the season (with two losses). His ERA dropped from 3.28 to 2.97.

Rodriguez threw 106 pitches over 5⅔ innings, allowing nine hits (including one home run), no walks, and six strikeouts, while giving up six runs. He took the loss, bringing his season record to five losses (and three wins).

Kim Tae-hyung, the Lotte manager who is attempting to become only the seventh manager in history to reach 800 career wins, had to postpone his opportunity.

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*This content was translated by AI.