*This content was translated by AI.
With Kang Baek-ho hitting a solo home run to maintain a narrow 1-0 lead, Lee Sang-gyu allowed three consecutive hits in the bottom of the 8th, putting Hanwha in a bases-loaded, no-out crisis. At that moment, Jo Dong-wook (22, Hanwha Eagles) emerged and cleanly retired all runners, becoming the top contributor to the team's victory.
In the game against LG Twins held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 3rd, Jo Dong-wook entered in the bottom of the 8th with the score 1-0, no outs, and bases loaded. He induced a double play and recorded a strikeout, completing a perfect inning with just six pitches.
It was a critical moment. Following Owen White's scoreless performance over seven innings on 111 pitches, Hanwha called upon Lee Sang-gyu, one of their top relievers. However, the LG lineup, previously held in check by White, began swinging aggressively. They recorded hits against Lee Young-bin, Lee Ju-heon, and Shin Min-jae.
Fortunately, all were singles, so no runner crossed home plate. Hanwha then turned to Jo Dong-wook. Facing the leadoff batter Hong Chang-gi, there was a risk that even a double play could allow the runner from third to score and tie the game. Hong swung at the first pitch, but the ball went directly to Jo Dong-wook, who threw to second base for a force out, then quickly relayed to first base to complete a double play.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Jo Dong-wook faced Song Chan-ui in a situation where even a single could lead to a comeback. He delivered a sharp, high outside fastball that froze the batter, recording a looking strikeout to end the inning.
After escaping the crisis, Hanwha's offense exploded for five runs in the 8th inning and added two more in the 9th to secure an 8-1 victory. While spotlight fell on Kang Baek-ho, who hit two home runs, and White, who earned his fifth win with a scoreless seven-inning outing, this was a victory that could not have been achieved without Jo Dong-wook.
After the game, Jo Dong-wook said regarding the double play situation, "I thought I had to trade the runners on second and third for an out," but added, "(Lee) Sang-gyu protected my runners so well before that, so I really wanted to protect them too."
He threw a slider on the first pitch, and it was perfectly effective. At the moment he personally induced the double play, he roared as if the inning were already over. Jo Dong-wook explained, "I knew there were two outs. I was so excited that I don't really remember clearly." He continued, "Last year, I had great success against Hong Chang-gi with sliders, so from the moment I entered the game, I decided to throw a slider."
Selected by Hanwha in the second round, 11th overall pick of the 2024 Rookie Draft, Jo Dong-wook showed promise out of the bullpen last year and has appeared in key situations this season. Despite pitching 33⅔ innings across 41 games, he holds a record of 1 win, 1 loss, 1 save, 9 holds, and an ERA of 2.67.
Since the May 23 game against Doosan Bears, Jo Dong-wook has maintained a scoreless streak spanning more than a month across 18 games. He said, "Many people have told me about my scoreless streak over several games, so I'm aware of it," but added, "(Both inherited runs and earned runs) are extremely important. If I can continue this momentum, I won't wish for anything else."
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*This content was translated by AI.
