The Korea Professional Baseball League's Lotte Giants halted Hanwha Eagles' starting pitcher nine-game winning streak.
Lotte achieved a comeback victory against Hanwha Eagles with a score of 5-3 in the regular season match of the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League' held at Busan's Sajik Stadium on the 24th. This allowed Lotte to avenge their defeat from the previous day (23rd) and stop Hanwha's nine-game winning streak. Lotte marked 14 wins, 12 losses, and 1 tie, while Hanwha recorded 15 wins and 12 losses. Hanwha, challenging for a nine-game winning streak, fielded a starting lineup consisting of Ahn Chi-hong (second base), Florial (center field), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third base), Chae Eun-sung (first base), Lee Jin-young (left field), Lim Jong-chan (right field), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Shim Woo-jun (shortstop), with the starting pitcher being local ace Ryu Hyun-jin.
Lotte's local ace Park Se-woong also took the mound. Hwang Seong-bin (center field), Yoon Dong-hee (right field), Go Seung-min (second base), Reyes (left field), Na Seung-yeop (first base), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Yoo Kang-nam (catcher), Son Ho-young (third base), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop) started.
Hanwha took the lead in the second inning. Lead-off hitter Noh Si-hwan's left-field single combined with consecutive walks from Chae Eun-sung and Lee Jin-young created an opportunity for a bases-loaded situation with no outs. Lim Jong-chan struck out, and Choi Jae-hoon hit a fly ball to the second baseman, changing the situation to bases loaded with two outs. However, Shim Woo-jun brought in the runner from third base with an infield single, taking the lead. In the continued bases-loaded situation with two outs, Ahn Chi-hong hit a two-RBI single, making the score 3-0.
On the mound, starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin continued to pitch well. However, Hanwha kept missing opportunities for additional points. In the top of the third, lead-off hitter Moon Hyun-jin's right-field single and the opposing team's balk and wild pitch created a one-out, runner on third opportunity, but they could not score in the order of Noh Si-hwan, Chae Eun-sung, and Lee Jin-young. In the top of the fourth, lead-off hitter Lim Jong-chan walked, but Choi Jae-hoon failed to execute a sacrifice bunt, and ultimately they could not bring in a run.
Finally, Lotte scored a run. Lead-off hitter Yoon Dong-hee lifted Ryu Hyun-jin's first pitch, a 142 km fastball, for a solo home run to left field. It was his second home run of the season. They started their comeback trail, trailing 1-3.
Afterward, Hanwha had another chance in the fifth, following a hit-by-pitch on Moon Hyun-bin with one out. Noh Si-hwan made an out, but a walk by Chae Eun-sung created a two-out opportunity with runners on first and second. However, this time, Lee Jin-young struck out, missing a chance to extend their lead.
Lotte's starting pitcher Park Se-woong allowed three runs in the second inning but kept overcoming additional scoring threats, throwing 108 pitches through the sixth inning. He had a quality start, allowing four hits, three walks, one hit-by-pitch, striking out nine, and giving up three runs.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, they attacked Ryu Hyun-jin. Hwang Seong-bin's right-field single, Yoon Dong-hee's right-field single, and Go Seung-min's sacrifice bunt created an opportunity with one out and runners on second and third. At this point, Hanwha chose to intentionally walk Reyes. They preferred to face Na Seung-yeop in a situation with one out and the bases loaded.
However, Lotte did not miss their opportunity with one out and the bases loaded. Na Seung-yeop produced a two-RBI single past the first baseman, successfully tying the game at 3-3. In the continued situation with one out and runners on first and third, Jeon Jun-woo hit a ground ball to the shortstop that brought in the runner from third. They turned the score to 4-3. Hanwha's shortstop Shim Woo-jun made a diving catch on a line drive to left field, preventing a further threat.
In the end, Hanwha failed to score in the top of the seventh, and Ryu Hyun-jin was pulled with a 3-4 deficit. Their challenge for a nine-game winning streak was lost.
Afterward, Lotte summoned Kim Sang-soo, Jeong Hyun-soo, and Jeong Cheol-won from the bullpen, working hard to maintain the one-point lead. Jeong Cheol-won allowed consecutive walks to Lee Jin-young and Lim Jong-chan with two outs in the eighth, creating a two-out, runners on first and second situation, but closer Kim Won-jung came in and retired Lee Jae-won, finishing the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lotte capitalized on Reyes' double, Na Seung-yeop's fly out to center, and Jeon Jun-woo's walk to create a one-out opportunity with runners on first and third. At the plate, Jeong Bo-geun hit a shallow fly ball to left field, but as the throw home went behind, the runner from third, Han Tae-yang, slid in safely, making it 5-3. Closer Kim Won-jung pitched a perfect ninth inning, securing the comeback victory.
Lotte's Park Se-woong became the winning pitcher, while Hanwha's attempt for a nine-game winning streak was thwarted with Ryu Hyun-jin taking the loss.
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