The Hanwha Eagles in professional baseball have climbed to the top spot alone after achieving a nine-game winning streak for the first time in 20 years. Starting pitcher Moon Dong-joo (22) reaffirmed his status as one of the 'strongest five starters' with a six-inning performance that rewarded manager Kim Kyung-moon's trust.

Moon started in the home game against the Samsung Lions at Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon on the 7th, leading Hanwha to a 10-6 victory with a quality start of six innings, six hits allowed, three walks, one hit batter, eight strikeouts, and two earned runs.

Since winning nine consecutive games starting from the KT game on the 26th of last month, Hanwha succeeded in achieving a nine-game winning streak for the first time in 7267 days, since the game against Doosan in Cheongju on June 4, 2005, to June 14 in Gwangju (Mudung). Hanwha secured 20 wins out of their last 23 games, marking a season record of 24 wins and 13 losses (win rate .649), pushing LG (23 wins, 14 losses), previously tied for first, to second place and ascending to the top position.

The lineup, which scored six runs in the seventh inning, blossomed while Moon laid the foundation for the victory with his performance through the sixth inning. He was scheduled to start against KIA in Gwangju on the 3rd, but the game was canceled due to rain, causing Moon to skip a turn in the rotation. It was his first appearance in 11 days since the KT game on the 26th of last month, and he seemed shaken in the early innings, possibly due to a lack of real game experience.

After allowing the first run with three consecutive hits after one out in the first inning, he also gave up more runs in the second inning with consecutive hits and a walk resulting in a sacrifice fly. Although it appeared difficult to pitch through long innings after throwing 52 pitches by the second inning, he found his rhythm after a swift three-out inning in the third and finished the sixth inning with 105 pitches.

The sixth inning was the final hurdle as Hanwha led 4-2. The first pitch fastball thrown to the leadoff hitter Kim Jae-sung went wide and resulted in a hit by pitch, while the following three pitches delivered to Lee Jae-hyun were all balls, showing difficulty in control. He created a full count but ended up walking the batter. With no outs and runners on first and second base, the next batter, Ahn Joo-hyung, was also met with a ball on the first pitch.

At that moment, pitching coach Yang Sang-moon came to the mound and disrupted the flow. Moon struck out Ahn Joo-hyung, who had repeatedly attempted a fake bunt slashing motion, on a full count with a swing and miss. However, the third forkball thrown to the next batter, Kim Tae-geun, turned into a wild pitch. Yet, catcher Choi Jae-hoon quickly retrieved the ball that bounced in front of him and threw to second base, successfully tagging out the runner. Energized by the defensive support, Moon caught Kim Tae-geun swinging at another forkball with two outs and a runner on third base, ending the inning unscathed and let out a roar.

The 'winning bomb' from Hanwha's starters did not burst with Moon Dong-joo. After the game, Moon said, "I feel a stronger thought that we need to keep going than the pressure of winning streaks. I felt it was my destiny, and I’m pleased to have done well," adding, "Our starters seem to enjoy the winning streak. Since our starters are doing exceptionally well, we are on this winning streak, and that thought makes me pitch even better."

Enduring until the sixth inning despite failing to manage his pitch count early in the game is evidence of Moon's growth. He explained, “Until a few years ago, I would be done by the second inning, but through a lot of experience, I think I’ve started to find various ways to overcome that over time. The biggest factor has been my effort to avoid getting overly excited."

The trust from the bench also makes Moon Dong-joo even greater. After throwing a ball on the first pitch with no outs and runners on first and second in the sixth, Moon thought he might be replaced when coach Yang Sang-moon came out. His control had been shaky, and his pitch count was high at 96. It was a timing that would not be unusual to make a change, but both coaches left the mound without substitutions. There was trust from manager Kim Kyung-moon in pushing through with Moon in a crisis.

Moon reflected on the situation, saying, "Honestly, I thought I would be replaced. The coach came up and said, 'You’re fine now, let’s go with confidence,' so I tried to pitch with confidence. Senior catcher Choi Jae-hoon also helped me a lot, allowing me to finish with a good result." After the game, manager Kim Kyung-moon praised Moon, saying, "After the first appearance since the 26th of last month, he was shaky early but found stability, handling his role well with six innings and two earned runs."

Moon, who has achieved four consecutive starting victories in his last four games, has a season record of four wins and one loss with an earned run average of 3.03, counting 40 strikeouts over seven games (35⅔ innings). Despite the harsh cold or rainy weather, he has developed the ability to hold his ground. Although he is a fireballer with a top speed of 160 km/h, he has effectively diversified from solely relying on fastballs by incorporating a reliable winning shot - the forkball.

Moon stated, "I’m not really concerned about my velocity. I’ve recently realized that if I push for velocity, my balance can collapse. While I’m not saving energy, I think my velocity is maintained because I’m trying to use the same effort consistently." He added, "The forkball can complicate things for batters a bit more after two strikes, which has a good effect for me. I'm also taking care of my nails, so there’s no need to worry about them breaking when I throw forkballs."

Moon's victory that day was completed with support from the bullpen. In particular, Kim Beom-soo's critical hold of 1⅔ innings without allowing a run, where he came out in a crisis with one out and runners on first and second in the seventh inning, by getting Lewin Diaz to fly out to center field and striking out pinch hitter Park Byung-ho, was decisive. After overcoming the crisis in the seventh, Moon remarked on Kim Beom-soo's refreshing roar, saying, "Hyung Beom-soo always protects me well. He showed how much he cares for his younger brothers. He may always grumble, but I confirmed his liking and love for me through his eyes."

Moon Dong-joo, who has achieved 20 wins in his fourth year since his debut, said, "Hitting 20 wins is nice, but it’s not quite enough to be mentioned alongside the notable seniors. I’ll think about it slowly," regarding the team’s ascendance to the top. He reflected, "Since the end of last season, everyone has worked hard without rest. Although things didn't go well at first, I believe that the players' unified dedication to work hard is what has led to our current success. Results are showing because we prepared well, and I think we can do even better."

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