SEOUL – The Kiwoom Heroes showcased their offensive prowess in a decisive 11-7 victory over the Hanwha Eagles, marking their fifth consecutive win in an action-packed Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season game on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Heroes capitalized on a high-energy fifth inning, overturning a 4-0 deficit into a significant 10-4 lead. The inning proved challenging for Eagles’ pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, a former major league All-Star, who surrendered eight hits, including a series of seven consecutive hits. This difficult outing resulted in Ryu being charged with nine earned runs over just 4 1/3 innings, causing his ERA to surge from 3.72 to 8.36 and his season record to drop to 0-2.
The match began with the Eagles establishing an early lead, thanks to a string of effective plays and hits, culminating in a 4-0 advantage. However, the Heroes’ relentless offense in the fifth inning turned the game’s momentum, featuring a barrage of hits that overwhelmed the Eagles’ pitching.
Despite a late surge in the seventh inning where the Eagles narrowed the gap to 10-7, Kiwoom’s bullpen held firm, preventing any further scoring. Notably, Ju Seung-woo and Moon Sung-hyun delivered crucial strikeouts in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to seal the victory.
The game was significant not only for its intense competition but also for the crowd it drew, with 16,000 fans witnessing the Heroes’ dynamic performance. Leadoff hitter Lee Ju-hyoung was a standout, going 3-for-5 and maintaining an impressive early-season hitting streak.
Kiwoom’s offensive depth was on full display, with eight players contributing at least one RBI each. This match underscored the team’s robust lineup and strategic acumen, positioning them as a formidable force early in the KBO season.
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