The Hanwha Eagles ended a four-game losing streak by creating a dramatic comeback in the ninth inning with two outs. Manager Kim Kyung-moon expressed gratitude to the fans in his post-game remarks.
Hanwha won 7-6 against the Samsung Lions in an away game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 5th. Moon Hyun-bin exploded with back-to-back home runs, hitting a solo shot in the eighth and a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth, saving a team that had fallen into a quagmire.
Plummeting to 10th place due to a severe slump in the early season, Hanwha struggled offensively again on this day. While Noh Si-hwan's RBI single in the third inning sparked some hope, it was the only hit until the seventh, and they were mired in a batting slump. Starter Ryu Hyun-jin was removed after allowing two home runs and four runs in five innings, contributing to the negative momentum.
Trailing 5-1 up to the seventh, the situation looked grim, but Moon Hyun-bin heralded a counterattack after two outs in the eighth. Inserted into center field as a defensive replacement in the sixth, Moon Hyun-bin battled Samsung veteran reliever Lim Chang-min to a 10-pitch duel. After swinging and missing at the first pitch and fouling off the second, he fought back from an unfavorable two-strike count, fouling off six pitches and taking one ball. Then, he belted a low forkball at 133 km/h over the right-center wall on the 10th pitch. The homer traveled 120 meters, marking his first home run of the season.
Moon Hyun-bin's hit awakened Hanwha. The next batter, Esteban Florial, hit a double to left-center, and Lee Jin-young followed with a two-run homer over the left-foul pole. He capitalized on a 134 km/h fastball that came in high and inside on the fifth pitch, hitting it for a home run. The distance was 110 meters, marking his first home run of the season.
After hitting two home runs, Hanwha pressured Samsung by narrowing the gap to 4-5, but in the bottom of the eighth, closer Park Sang-won allowed a solo home run to Kim Heon-gon, increasing the gap to two runs. With two outs in the top of the ninth, it seemed that a five-game losing streak was imminent, but an unbelievable comeback unfolded.
Im Jong-chan drew a walk after a seven-pitch duel with Samsung closer Kim Jae-yoon. Prior to throwing the eighth pitch in a full count, Kim Jae-yoon committed a pitch clock violation, resulting in a ball being called and allowing Im Jong-chan to reach first base. Noh Si-hwan then connected with a single to left, creating an opportunity with two outs and runners on first and second before Moon Hyun-bin stepped to the plate again.
Against Kim Jae-yoon, Moon Hyun-bin hit a foul ball on the fifth pitch with a ball count of 2B-2S, then did not miss the sixth pitch, a forkball. He pulled a low forkball coming in at 134 km/h over the right wall. The distance was 120 meters, marking his second home run of the season. This became the decisive hit that led to a 7-6 comeback victory.
In the bottom of the ninth, closer Kim Seo-hyun closed it out with a clean three-up, three-down inning, completing Hanwha's 7-6 dramatic comeback. This was Kim Seo-hyun's second save of the season. Hanwha, which broke a four-game losing streak, improved to 4 wins and 8 losses.
After the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyung-moon said, "It was a comeback victory that gives hope to the team. We have been struggling to score, and I felt sorry to our Hanwha Eagles fans, but with today’s comeback win, we will work to produce good games moving forward."
On the 6th, Hanwha will send sidearm pitcher Eom Sang-baek as the starter against Samsung, aiming for a winning streak and a winning series. Samsung will have Denny Reyes as the starting pitcher.
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