Professional baseball KT Wiz pitcher So Hyung-jun enjoyed the joy of a starting win after 928 days.
So Hyung-jun started on the 13th at Suwon KT Wiz Park in a home game against the Samsung Lions, pitching 5 innings with 5 hits allowed, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 1 earned run (unearned), marking his first win of the season and his first starting win since the game against Doosan in Suwon on Sept. 28, 2022.
KT defeated Samsung 6-5, extending their winning streak to two games, thanks to the stellar performance of starting pitcher So Hyung-jun. Although they were narrowed down to a 1-point lead under Samsung's fierce pursuit, Park Young-hyun, who pitched in the 9th inning, recorded his 6th save of the season with a scoreless inning.
After the game, So Hyung-jun said, "The weather was quite cold, and there were challenges in pitching due to the wind. I felt a lot of pressure because the team lost the previous two games. Today, the team won, which relieved me of that burden."
He continued, "In the 2nd inning, I threw 50 pitches, and I pitched with the mindset to endure until the 5th inning. I think I was able to do this thanks to the support of my fielding seniors. I'm also grateful to (Park) Young-hyun for doing well in tough situations until the end."
So Hyung-jun expressed his confidence regarding his goals for the season, saying, "I haven't set a target number of wins since before the season started, and I decided not to be overly fixated on victories. I just want to contribute to the team's championship without getting injured. My condition is also good without any pain until the day after starting."
So Hyung-jun also remarked, "I’ve had experience in the bullpen and have started many times, but starting feels much more familiar and comfortable," adding, "Coming in the middle, I was able to feel a bit of the struggles of bullpen pitchers."
Meanwhile, Manager Lee Kang-cheol commended, "So Hyung-jun showcased excellent crisis management skills, laying the groundwork for the victory. Congratulations on your first win of the season and your first starting win in 928 days."
He added, "Bullpen pitchers also did their jobs. Especially Park Young-hyun, who finished the game in a tight situation, is the most significant contributor to the victory."
Manager Lee Kang-cheol gave generous applause to the focused batters, stating, "Both the top and bottom of the lineup showed concentration evenly. In the first inning, when a chance nearly fell through, Jang Seong-woo and Bae Jeong-dae combined for 2 RBIs, bringing the game's momentum. Then, with RBIs from Kang Baek-ho and Kim Min-hyeok, along with an additional RBI from Jang Jun-won, who has shown good hitting form recently, we were able to seize the victory."
Lastly, he expressed, "The players have worked hard over the past week, and I appreciate the fans who cheered enthusiastically in the cold and windy weather."
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