'Shock' 7 runs allowed in one inning → Triple play against Noh Si-hwan and Kang Baek-ho... Hanwha's 'chase for .500 win rate' hits a severe slump [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Was it this hard to maintain a .500 win rate? The Hanwha Eagles, relying on their foreign pitcher, are facing difficulties after a shocking one-inning performance allowing seven runs and an unlucky triple play.

On the 1st, Hanwha trailed KT Wiz 4-7 through five innings in a regular-season away game at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

After losing the previous day due to scattered hits and falling to 46 wins, 3 ties, and 47 losses—breaking their .500 win rate—Hanwha took an early lead again today. In the bottom of the third, leadoff hitter Lee Do-yoon hit a double down the left-field line. Sim Woo-jun's sacrifice bunt moved him to third base with one out. Lee Won-seok grounded to shortstop, bringing Lee Do-yoon home and giving Hanwha a 1-0 lead.

But a nightmare followed. It began when Choi Won-jun hit a single up the middle with one out against Bruce Zimmermann. Kim Hyun-soo then singled to right field, and Ahn Hyeon-min hit a two-run double down the left-field line, tying the game at 1-1.

Sam Hilliard drew a walk to load the bases, and Kim Sang-su hit a sacrifice fly to right field for an RBI single, giving KT the lead. Heo Kyung-min flew out to right field, but Oh Yun-seok's ball soared all the way to the left-field wall. The Hanwha right fielder failed to catch it, resulting in a two-run double with three RBIs. Following that, Han Seung-taek and Jang Jun-won hit back-to-back RBI singles by attacking the first pitch, scoring one run each. KT led 7-1.

Hanwha did not stay silent. In the top of the fourth inning with two outs, Noh Si-hwan launched a solo home run off Bae Je-seong's slider to left field. A season-high 22nd home run with a distance of 114.5 meters. Chae Eun-seong followed with a single to right field, keeping the opportunity alive. Heo In-seo did not miss Bae Je-seong's hanbok-style off-speed pitch and hit a two-run home run to left field. A season-high 15th home run with a distance of 129.1 meters.

In the top of the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Lee Won-seok singled to center field, and Yonatan Peraza drew a walk, continuing Hanwha's momentum. The upcoming batters were the cleanup trio: Han Ji-yoon, Noh Si-hwan, and Kang Baek-ho.

But luck did not favor Hanwha. Han Ji-yoon's pulled high slider near the third-base line was fielded by Heo Kyung-min.

Heo Kyung-min calmly stepped on third base to force out Lee Won-seok, who was running from second. He then threw to second base, forcing out Yonatan Peraza at second. Finally, second baseman Kim Sang-su threw to first base, retiring batter Han Ji-yoon for a triple play. Video review did not change the outcome.

In hindsight, it was regrettable that Moon Hyun-bin had been substituted in the previous at-bat. A Hanwha club official stated, "There is nothing unusual about substituting Moon Hyun-bin."

Today's Hanwha lineup: Lee Won-seok (center field), Yonatan Peraza (right field), Moon Hyun-bin (left field), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third base), Chae Eun-seong (first base), Heo In-seo (catcher), Lee Do-yoon (second base), Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). Starting pitcher: Bruce Zimmermann.

Facing them, KT's lineup was: Choi Won-jun (center field), Kim Hyun-soo (designated hitter), Ahn Hyeon-min (right field), Sam Hilliard (left field), Kim Sang-su (second base), Heo Kyung-min (third base), Oh Yun-seok (!first base), Han Seung-taek (catcher), Jang Jun-won (shortstop). Starting pitcher: Bae Je-seong.

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

*This content was translated by AI.