"The time for a winning streak is coming": Hanwha's five-game winning streak after 377 days... The Eagles have not given up yet [Daejeon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Even with five consecutive wins, calling for autumn baseball still sounds somewhat unrealistic. However, the Hanwha Eagles have not yet shouted "give up."

Under the leadership of manager Kim Kyung-moon (68), Hanwha secured a decisive 19-3 victory over LG Twins in their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ball Park on the 9th.

After snapping a nine-game losing streak, they surged to five consecutive wins—a feat never achieved this season. The last time occurred exactly 377 days ago, dating back to August 28 of last year against Kiwoom.

This season's trajectory for Hanwha is clearly reflected in their struggles. Unlike the long losing streaks, they endured a grueling period without a single five-game winning streak, and especially during August's severe slump, they fell far from contention for the top four spots. Even amid the gloomy atmosphere, manager Kim Kyung-moon repeatedly expressed optimism with his catchphrase: "If there is a losing streak, a winning streak will come." This stance stemmed from his belief that negative thoughts only fuel further concern.

Before the game, Manager Kim emphasized, "We have underperformed too much so far. We must work diligently until the end," adding, "Since we still have many negatives, I will work even harder with the players."

It took far too long to achieve the eagerly awaited five-game winning streak. With a record of 54 wins, 65 losses, and 3 ties, Hanwha sits in seventh place, seven games behind fifth-place Doosan Bears—making it difficult to close the gap.

However, today's game showcased perfect offensive and defensive balance with no flaws, raising expectations for their future performance.

Starting pitcher Wang Yencheng threw 92 pitches over six innings, allowing seven hits, one walk, striking out one batter, and surrendering only one run—a stellar outing that earned him his 11th win of the season (with five losses). Beyond his flawless pitching, he also contributed significantly by creating two double plays through his own outstanding fielding.

The offense exploded. LG deployed Carlos Carrasco, who had recorded 112 wins in Major League Baseball (MLB) and joined the team last month, making a massive impact. Hanwha scored first in the bottom of the first inning and then relentlessly targeted Carrasco as his control wavered in the fourth. With bases loaded and no outs, Heo In-seo delivered a two-run single, followed by Sim Woo-jun's one-run single, extending the lead to 4-1. Carrasco was ultimately pulled from the game after just four innings.

In the fifth inning, Hanwha added two more runs by targeting John Kennedy and Go Woo-seok consecutively, seizing control of the game. In the eighth, they delivered a knockout blow to LG. Heo In-seo's two-run single and Han Ji-yoon's career-first grand slam over the monster wall propelled the lineup through two full rotations, adding 12 more runs.

After securing the five-game winning streak, Manager Kim stated, "Wang Yencheng held the opposing lineup to minimal runs with excellent pitching, making a significant contribution to our victory. I want to praise his outstanding performance." He added, "The offense also demonstrated focus and perseverance in maintaining the winning streak."

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

*This content was translated by AI.