"9:0→9:2→10:5→11:8→11:11→15:11" — Insane! Hanwha snaps six-game losing streak, erasing worst-ever pitching performance of seven earned runs in 1/3 inning with a stunning comeback victory over LG [Daejeon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Hanwha Eagles overcame a nine-run deficit to secure a thrilling comeback victory.

Hanwha defeated the LG Twins 15-11 in a regular-season home game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park on the 21st.

With this result, Hanwha escaped a six-game losing streak and maintained eighth place with 49 wins, 3 draws, and 56 losses. LG, which fell into a two-game losing streak, recorded 60 wins, 1 draw, and 50 losses, widening the gap with third-place KIA Tigers, who won on the same day.

The turning point came in the bottom of the eighth inning with both teams tied at 11-11. Heo In-seo and Lee Do-yoon reached base consecutively after hitting balls off pitcher Bae Jae-jun. Second baseman Shin Min-jae fielded a ground ball hit by pinch-hitter Choi In-ho well but failed to turn it into a double play. Kim Tae-yeon, who had previously hit a solo home run in the chase, finally turned the game around with a two-out RBI single to center field. Moon Hyun-bin then drove in two runs with an RBI double down the left-center gap, and Han Ji-yoon sealed the victory with an RBI single up the right side.

Both teams struggled as their pitching staffs collapsed. Hanwha starting pitcher Bruce Zimmerman lasted just one-third of an inning, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out one, and giving up seven earned runs to record his third loss of the season. Fortunately, reliever Kwon Min-gyu, who entered in the second spot, held on for 4⅓ innings, surrendering six hits, one walk, and three earned runs with two strikeouts, allowing Hanwha to stage a close contest.

LG's bullpen collapsed for the second consecutive day. After surrendering 15 hits and 16 runs to KT Wiz on the previous day (the 20th), LG saw starting pitcher Song Seung-gi fail to complete five innings, allowing eight hits, three walks, two strikeouts, and five earned runs over 4⅓ innings. The relievers who were supposed to secure the win also crumbled: Kim Young-woo gave up three earned runs in 1⅓ innings, while Lee Woo-chan allowed two hits, two walks, and two earned runs in just one-third of an inning. The game, which had been held on by a narrow margin, ended in defeat after Bae Jae-jun surrendered two hits, two hit-by-pitches, and four earned runs over ⅔ innings.

In the power battle, Hanwha showed its strength in the later innings. Kim Tae-yeon went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored, including the go-ahead hit; Moon Hyun-bin was 4-for-6 with four RBIs and three runs scored; Han Ji-yoon went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored; and Chae Eun-seong went 3-for-5 with one RBI. Heo In-seo, Kang Baek-ho, Noh Si-hwan, and Sim Woo-jun also contributed with multi-hit performances.

On this day, LG lined up Shin Min-jae (second baseman), Park Hae-min (center fielder), Austin Dean (designated hitter), Moon Jeong-bin (first baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Koo Bon-hyeok (shortstop), Lee Ju-heon (catcher), and Hong Chang-gi (right fielder). The starting pitcher was Song Seung-gi.

In response, Hanwha lined up Kim Tae-yeon (right fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (center fielder), Han Ji-yoon (left fielder), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-seong (first baseman), Heo In-seo (catcher), Hwang Young-mok (second baseman), and Sim Woo-jun (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Bruce Zimmermann.

LG demolished Zimmermann. In the top of the first inning, leadoff batter Shin Min-jae drew a walk, Park Hae-min executed a bunt, and Austin was awarded a walk to load the bases with no outs. Song Chan-ui opened the big inning with a two-run double to left-center field. Following that, Moon Bo-kyung hit a one-run single to center field, and Koo Bon-hyuk also drove in a run with a single to center field, making it 4-0.

In the first inning, a batter immediately went down. Lee Ju-heon hit a large two-RBI double to the upper left-field wall, and Hong Chang-gi followed with a one-RBI single to right field, bringing in the remaining runner to score. Ultimately, Zimmermann was replaced by Kwon Min-kyu, who induced a 5-6-3 double play off Shin Min-jae, ending a long top of the first inning.

LG's lower-order batters also came alive. In the bottom of the third inning, Moon Bo-kyung and Koo Bon-hyuk reached base with consecutive line-drive singles to left-center field, but Lee Ju-heon cleared the bases with a massive double down the left-field line. LG led 9-0.

Hanwha's lineup also ignited late. In the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, Noh Si-hwan drew a walk and Chae Eun-seong reached base with a single to left field. Heo In-seo then ended the scoreless streak with a two-run double to left-center.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, leadoff batter Sim Woo-jun advanced to third base on a double down the right-field line followed by Kim Tae-yeon's infield grounder. Moon Hyun-bin hit a two-run double to center-left field, driving in one run, and Han Ji-yoon singled to left field. Kang Baek-ho drew a walk to load the bases. Song Seung-gi was replaced by Kim Young-woo after issuing a bases-loaded walk to Noh Si-hwan. Kim Young-woo also allowed a deep shortstop hit by Chae Eun-seong, giving up one run.

In the meantime, LG added two more runs with Shin Min-jae's RBI single to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on second base, followed by Song Chan-ui's solo home run to left field in the bottom of the sixth with two outs.

However, the Hanwha lineup was not ready to end there. In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, Kim Tae-yeon hit a solo home run to left field to ignite the offense again. Moon Hyun-bin recorded an infield single to right field, and Han Ji-yun hit a double down the left-field line to create scoring opportunities at second and third base. Kang Baek-ho then drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly to center-left field off the reliever Lee Woo-chan.

Hanwha finally managed to tie the game. In the bottom of the 7th inning, with leadoff batters Heo In-seo and Lee Jin-young reaching base on walks, LG replaced its entire battery. Catcher Lee Ju-heon was replaced by Park Dong-won, while pitcher Lee Woo-chan was replaced by Kim Jin-su.

There was no effect. Sim Woo-jun hit a single to left field to load the bases again, Kim Tae-yeon scored on a sacrifice fly to left field for one RBI, Moon Hyun-bin drove in a run with a two-run single to left-center, and Han Ji-yoon tied the game at 11-11 with an infield grounder to shortstop.

Hanwha ultimately succeeded in taking the lead with a four-run big inning in the bottom of the eighth, and LG failed to recover those runs, leaving home fans smiling.

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*This content was translated by AI.