"I will go for 20-20."
Hanwha Eagles' fourth batter Noh Si-hwan (25) hit a valuable game-winning home run leading to a 5-game winning streak and expressed his desire for 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. On 2nd, at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, he led the team to a 3-2 victory against the Kia Tigers by hitting a left-field solo home run as the lead-off batter in the top of the 11th inning.
The team had a streak of 8 wins before taking a brief pause with 2 losses, and until this day, they have surged again with another 5-game winning streak. They have an overwhelming record of 13 wins and 2 losses in the last 15 games. The team has reached 20 wins, and furthermore, on this day, they moved closer to the first-place LG Twins by 0.5 games after inflicting their 5th consecutive loss.
Noh Si-hwan led the way. Aside from getting a walk in the 8th inning as the fourth batter, he was silent. However, he shined in the most crucial moment. In the top of the 11th inning, tied at 2-2, when opposing pitcher Lim Gi-young came on, he lifted a slider on a favorable count of 2 balls and 1 strike, sending it over the left-field fence. The Hanwha fans on the first base side went wild. It was his 10th home run of the season. He is smoothly on track towards his goal of 30 home runs.
After the game, Noh Si-hwan noted, "I was the lead-off batter. I stepped up to the plate with the goal of getting on base. I didn’t swing at the first pitch, but when the ball count got to two balls, I thought it was an opportunity. I thought I could hit something big. I swung with a favorable count in front of me, and it turned into a home run. I actually held back my strength, but the slider came in perfectly. This is the 30 home runs that are my goal for this year. I want to maintain this pace and quickly achieve my 20th home run."
The atmosphere of the team is also conveyed in the soaring momentum. Noh stated, "Both teams fought with all their might. We talked a lot about needing to secure this win to continue our winning streak, and I’m glad we won. We achieved 8 wins in a row, broke the 2-game losing streak and are back to winning again. It doesn’t seem like we'll lose any time soon. This feels different from last year. I’m really thankful to the pitchers, and I want to tell them they’ve worked hard. Even if we don't perform well, the pitchers have been brilliantly holding in there, helping us maintain our position at the top."
He subtly expressed his ambition for stolen bases as well. As of this day, he has recorded 5 stolen bases. Personally, 6 is his highest record in a season, and he already has 5. He is actively stealing whenever there’s an opportunity. Manager Kim Kyung-moon has been instructing active base running. With the help of base running coach Kim Jae-gyeol, he is increasingly enjoying the thrill of stealing bases.
Noh Si-hwan mentioned the 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases with a serious face. "This year, I’m aiming for 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Stolen bases are obviously good. Even if I get out, if I boldly run, I live and score, making baseball more enjoyable and beneficial. While the speed doesn’t mean much, I want to fill the 20 stolen bases without getting injured, as it helps the team. If the opposing team is paying attention, it helps the other batters. I need to keep running," he said, smiling.
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