"When a team isn't winning, all sorts of things go wrong." Hanwha's '8-game losing streak → 9th place collapse'... Ryu Hyun-jin fails to win in 10 consecutive starts [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hanwha Eagles' Ryu Hyun-jin (39) has failed to secure a win in his last 10 games due to relentless bad luck, even as his position players offered little support, forcing him to bow his head once again.

On the 2nd, Ryu Hyun-jin started against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park for the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game, throwing 91 pitches over five innings while allowing seven hits, one walk, five strikeouts, and four runs (three earned).

This marks his first winless streak in ten games since June 11 against KIA (six innings, one run allowed). While Ryu Hyun-jin's struggles are evident, the position players' lack of support has kept his win total at eight wins (five losses).

The day before, Owen White became the losing pitcher after allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings. Manager Kim stated before the game, "It's disappointing. If there had been no unnecessary errors, we could have reduced our pitch count by about ten." He added, "When a team isn't winning, all sorts of things go wrong. What matters now is that if we give up four runs early, batters need to deliver and show scoring power to the fans who are cheering. But lately, we haven't been able to score well, which is frustrating."

However, this trend continued on this day as well. The team allowed an ugly run starting in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Choi Won-jun reached first base following Sim Woo-jun's throwing error. Although the team retired Ahn Hyun-min and Sam Hilliard with consecutive strikeouts with one out and runners on first and third, they gave up a hit to Kim Min-hyeok and allowed a run. This was an unearned run for Ryu Hyun-jin that would not have occurred without the error.

The situation worsened in the second inning. The team allowed consecutive hits to Heo Kyung-min and Jo Dae-hyun but managed to record one out thanks to Jang Jun-won's sacrifice bunt. Choi Won-jun hit a double into center field, scoring one run. At that moment, center fielder Choi In-ho committed a fielding error on the catch, allowing the runner from second base to advance to third and then score an additional run by exploiting the mistake.

With two outs and a runner on second, Ahn Hyun-min was walked. Hilliard then hit a ground ball to the third baseman and sprinted toward first base. The umpire ruled safe at first base, prompting Kim Tae-yeon to request a video review while expressing frustration. Seizing the confusion, Choi Won-jun advanced from second to third, observed Kim Tae-yeon's reaction, and then broke for home plate. Kim Tae-yeon failed to throw the ball home in time.

The video review upheld the safe call at first base and confirmed the run scored. Both Noh Si-hwan, who did not make an aggressive lead, and Kim Tae-yeon, who failed to throw home, were criticized for their poor judgment. The team suffered another unearned run despite no official error being recorded—a play resembling a head-first collision. Although multiple errors and error-like plays occurred, three of Ryu Hyun-jin's four runs allowed were charged as earned runs.

There was also disappointment in base running. Choi In-ho reached on a hit in the third inning but hesitated momentarily when Yonatan Peraza hit a ground ball to right field, possibly misreading the situation. He ultimately settled for advancing only to second base. Later, Moon Hyun-bin's hit created a bases-loaded situation with one out. Kang Baek-ho hit a foul fly, which Heo Kyung-min caught after colliding with the infield fence. Noh Si-hwan then grounded out to the pitcher, ending the inning without scoring.

It was a blessing in disguise that they avoided defeat. In the top of the fifth inning, after consecutive hits by Sim Woo-jun and Choi In-ho, Moon Hyun-bin delivered a two-out RBI single. Kang Baek-ho then hit a three-run home run to tie the game at 4-4.

Ryu Hyun-jin cleanly retired the side in order in the bottom of the fifth inning but had thrown 50 pitches due to poor fielding errors by position players in the first and second innings. He eventually handed the ball to Park Sang-won before the sixth inning began. With the lineup failing to score in the top of the sixth, his bid for a ninth win was postponed once again. The only consolation was that he became only the fourth player in history to record 100 strikeouts in ten consecutive seasons.

Despite having chances to win, Hanwha once again self-destructed. In the bottom of the seventh inning with one out and a runner on first base while tied 4-4, Kim Min-hyeok hit a double into right field. The throw from second baseman Hwang Young-mok to the catcher was significantly off target. Ahn Hyun-min, despite the third base coach's signal to hold, attempted to score aggressively. A single poor throw ultimately allowed the opposing team to take the lead. Meanwhile, the runner advanced to third base and scored an additional run when Heo Kyung-min hit a single.

In the eighth inning, the team collapsed after allowing five consecutive hits, including a solo home run by Hilliard, surrendering three more runs. Although the lineup hit two solo home runs in the top of the ninth to generate momentum, it was insufficient to turn the game around.

Ultimately, the team fell into an eight-game losing streak and dropped to ninth place after being overtaken by SSG Landers, who defeated Kiwoom Heroes on this day. Their performance resembled a self-inflicted defeat, making victory impossible to follow. The result was painfully bitter.

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

*This content was translated by AI.