He displayed monster pitching in the final crisis. He threw only four-seam fastballs and cut fastballs while keeping the main weapon changeup sealed. Thus, he struck out Yang Eui-ji, a pinch hitter. Hanwha ace Ryu Hyun-jin (37) led a meaningful sweep against Doosan.메이저놀이터
Ryu pitched 95 pitches in the game against the Doosan Bears in Jamsil on Tuesday local time, allowing five hits, four strikeouts and one run in seven innings. He garnered his eighth win of this season and lowered his earned run average to 3.84. He proved himself to be an ace by playing long innings in a game where he lacked the necessary resources for bullpen sessions. Although Ryu was facing a steady crisis of losing points, he managed the mound skillfully by combining his strength and technique.
The highlight was the showdown between Yang and the last batter in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners at the first and second bases with two outs, Doosan played a substitute game for Yang. Then Yang Sang-moon, the team’s pitching coach, took the mound and told Ryu that it was his last game of the game. Ryu responded to Yang’s remarks with all his might. He pitched four-seam fastball and cut fastball. He struck out Yang with a six-pitch cut fastball.
Thanks to Ryu’s good pitching, Hanwha won Doosan 7-0. It is the first three consecutive games against Doosan in 7020 days since June 6, 2005. Hanwha had 57 wins, 60 losses and two draws overall for the season, trailing fifth-ranked KT by one game.
The following is a question-and-answer session between Ryu Hyun-jin and reporters after the game.
-Do you know when the recent sweep against Doosan was?
I saw it through an article. It was 2005. It happened before I even joined.
-It is a victory in a fierce competition for rankings along with sweeps. It seems that he won the match that can give various meanings.
I think I won the most during the ranking competition. In the absence of (Chae) Sung and (An) Chi Hong, other players teamed up to win consecutive games. It feels especially good to see them win consecutive games.
-When I played against Yang Eui-ji at the end. I thought it was really the last game and threw it. The ball combination was impressive, but he only threw four-seam and cut. Was he going to throw only two pitches in advance?
I threw it according to the catcher’s signature.” (Choi) Jae-hoon was so good at ball mixing that I trusted Jae-hoon.
Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is pitching hard against Doosan in the 2024 KBO League at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 25th. 2024. 8. 25. Jamsil | Reporter Choi Seung-seop thunder@sportsseoul.com
-I think Yang Eui-ji thought of a change-up.
Wouldn’t he have thought of a changeup? I thought he gave me a good autograph and threw it with all my might.
-When facing Kim Jae-hwan, the first batter in the bottom of the seventh inning, he also seemed to be pitching all out.
He was the first batter and we turned the tables, so I thought we had to catch him. Before that, I threw with the mindset that I must get revenge because I got hit by a home run.
-When I was playing in the Major League, I had a fierce competition at the end of the season. I’m back in Korea this year, and I’m still competing in the rankings. How is the ranking competition coming up in Korea?
I think it can be meaningful that we’re doing something we haven’t done in recent years. That’s how much our players are focusing on every game. It’s really good to see everyone from young players to veterans focus on every moment of every game.
-As a veteran, do you emphasize anything to your juniors?
There’s nothing special. I’m doing well even if I don’t tell you. I always say let’s do it with the thought of winning unconditionally.
-At the end of the season, he is showing good speed. As such, conditioning seems to be going well this year.
I’m throwing it without any inconvenience. That’s why I think the restraint comes out well. With the cancellation of the rain, it was replenished physically. It seems that the management is done well naturally.
-It’s been a while since I came back to Korea. Is there anything you feel better about?
I guess so. But the weather was really hard. Summer in Korea used to not be like this. The weather like this is definitely harder than when I was playing in the U.S.A. It seems that I am adjusting well to everything except for the summer weather.
-As an ace, he must also feel pressure and responsibility. He used to do this at Hanwha and the Dodgers and Toronto, but he is again playing intense games at Hanwha at the end of this season.
I don’t want to think about anything special. Since I’m a starting pitcher, I’m only thinking about the role that suits the starting pitcher. Since the number of pitches has been set, I try to fill the number of pitches well and play as long as possible.
Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is pitching hard against Doosan in the 2024 KBO League at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 25th. 2024. 8. 25. Jamsil | Reporter Choi Seung-seop thunder@sportsseoul.com
-If you go up to the postseason, you might want to play the last game of Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park in fall baseball. Does this work as motivation?
I want to do that. But before that, I want to give more meaning to my advance to the postseason. The goal we set from the spring camp is the postseason. We have only a few games left and I can see the goal. I hope we all look at the goal and cheer up.
-The next starting pitcher is KT. It’s an important game.
That’s right. In fact, every game is important from now on. The more important the game is, the more important it is to minimize invisible mistakes. In the case of pitchers, they should give as few walks as possible. That way, they can lead the game as planned.
-I keep winning in blue uniform. I think I’ve got a good jinx.
I don’t know. I think I just wore these uniforms when the players were doing well. I think the uniforms look good because the players are good.