Moon Dong-ju of the Hanwha Eagles was removed early in his return to the first team after 21 days, failing to complete four innings.
Moon Dong-ju took the mound as the starting pitcher against the LG Twins at Hanwha Life Park in Daejeon on the 15th.
Since being excluded from the first team roster after a poor performance against Lotte on 24th, where he allowed six runs over 4⅔ innings, this was his return match. He has recorded 5 wins, 2 losses, and an earned run average of 3.68 this season over 10 games. Against LG, he has pitched well in 9 career games, achieving 3 wins, 2 losses, and an earned run average of 2.91. This year, he has also pitched one game with 5 innings and no earned runs.
In the first inning, Moon Dong-ju threw a fastball reaching 157 km/h against Shin Min-jae, and struck him out with a swinging strike on a 141 km/h forkball. Kim Hyun-soo was out on a fly ball to center field on a 155 km/h fastball. He ended the inning by fielding Austin's ground ball and stepping on first base.
In the second inning, Moon Dong-ju got Moon Bo-gyeong out on a 158 km/h fastball for a ground ball to third base. Moon Sung-ju was out on a ground ball to shortstop, and Gu Bon-hyeok struck out looking on a 158 km/h fastball, ending the inning with three outs.
After pitching perfectly until the second inning, Moon Dong-ju suddenly faltered in the third. He threw three consecutive balls to leadoff hitter Lee Ju-heon. After catching two strikes, he ultimately allowed a walk. Lee Young-bin's two attempted bunts both fell foul. Lee Young-bin hit a single to right on the third pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Park Hae-min also attempted a bunt but failed both times, and Moon Dong-ju struck him out with a curveball for a swinging strike.
After giving up a hit to Shin Min-jae, he found himself in a one-out, bases loaded crisis. Third baseman Roh Si-hwan made a diving catch on Kim Hyun-soo's ground ball to third, but the throw to first was late, allowing the runner from third to score.
After the run scored, he struck out Austin for his second out with a swinging strike. Moon Bo-gyeong faced three balls. After throwing another ball on the fourth pitch, he allowed a walk that forced in a run. The score went to 0-2. He barely finished the inning with a ground ball to the catcher from Moon Sung-ju. He threw 33 pitches in just the third inning.
In the fourth inning, Moon Dong-ju issued a straight walk to leadoff hitter Gu Bon-hyeok. Lee Ju-heon switched from a bunt stance to a swing and hit a single to left field, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Lee Young-bin attempted to swing after a bunt but struck out, and Moon Dong-ju managed to get a swinging strikeout with a slow curveball.
In a full count battle against Park Hae-min, he escaped one crisis by getting a fly out to left field. However, he then allowed a single to Shin Min-jae, which loaded the bases with two outs. Kim Hyun-soo followed with a hit to right field, leading to two additional runs scored against him.
Ultimately unable to escape the crisis, Moon Dong-ju was replaced by Hwang Jun-seo with two outs and runners on the corners, trailing 0-4. He pitched 3⅔ innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 walks, and striking out 5 while allowing 4 runs.
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