Ryū Hyun-jin (39), Kang Baek-ho (27), and Noh Si-hwan (26) — the high-priced stars of the Hanwha Eagles powered the team to a third consecutive victory. The win puts Hanwha in a promising position to climb into the upper-middle ranks of the KBO League.

On May 12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Hanwha defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 11-5 in the first game of a three-game midweek road series. The victory extended Hanwha’s winning streak to three games, improving their record to 17 wins and 20 losses. Meanwhile, Kiwoom, stuck at the bottom of the league, failed to snap their five-game losing streak and now sit at 13 wins, 24 losses, and one tie.

Hanwha starting pitcher Ryū Hyun-jin achieved his 121st win in the KBO and 199th combined win in Korea and the United States. He tossed five innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, two walks, and striking out nine, earning his fourth win of the season (against two losses). His fastball topped out at 147 km/h, mixing in changeups, cutters, curves, and sliders. He threw 89 pitches.

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Meanwhile, Kiwoom starter Bae Dong-hyun struggled mightily, allowing 11 hits (including one home run) and eight earned runs over just three innings, with three strikeouts and three walks. He fell to 4-2 on the season, failing to silence his former team. His fastball also reached 147 km/h, but he threw 93 pitches through just four innings.

Hanwha seized control early in the top of the first inning. After leadoff hitter Hwang Young-muk was hit by a pitch, Jonathan Peraza singled to center-right, and Kang Baek-ho walked to load the bases with one out. Noh Si-hwan crushed Bae’s first-pitch 144 km/h fastball, sending it over the center-field wall for a go-ahead grand slam. Hanwha kept the pressure on as Lee Jin-young singled to center-right and Kim Tae-yeon singled to right, putting runners on first and third with one out. Choi Jae-hoon then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

In the bottom of the second, after Peraza grounded into a double play, Moon Hyun-bin doubled to center-right and advanced to third on a fielding error by the center fielder. Kang Baek-ho followed with a double to left-center, driving in another run. Hanwha squandered a chance in the third after loading second and third with two outs due to an error.

The Eagles added more runs in the fourth. Peraza singled to center and Moon Hyun-bin doubled to right to put runners on second and third with no outs. Kang Baek-ho then beat out an infield single to first base, scoring a run. Noh Si-hwan continued his hot hitting with an RBI double to right. However, Hanwha failed to capitalize further.

Kiwoom finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Ahn Chi-hong singled to center-right and Choi Joo-hwan singled to left-center, putting runners on first and third. Trenton Brooks brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to center. In the fifth, with two outs, Seo Geon-chang singled to center, Lim Byung-wook walked, and a wild pitch from Ryū placed runners on second and third. Ahn Chi-hong then laced a two-run double to left-center.

Hanwha answered immediately in the top of the sixth. Leading off, Kang Baek-ho crushed a solo home run to center field. Kiwoom threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases with two outs after a walk to Yang Hyun-jong and hit batters on Kwon Hyuk-bin and Park Sung-bin. Seo Geon-chang delivered an RBI single to right, but Kiwoom failed to capitalize on the full bases.

After Hanwha left runners on first and third in the seventh, they extended their lead in the eighth. Kang Baek-ho walked, Noh Si-hwan singled to left-center, and two consecutive wild pitches allowed another run to score. Kiwoom got one back in the bottom half when Joo Sung-won walked and Yang Hyun-jong singled to right, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Choi Jae-young hit a sacrifice fly to left, but that was all they could muster.

Hanwha added a final run in the top of the ninth. Shim Woo-jun singled to center and, after a passed ball, Moon Hyun-bin singled to center for an RBI. After Ryū exited, the Hanwha bullpen of Jo Dong-wook, Lee Sang-gyu, Kwon Min-gyu, and Kang Gun-woo closed out the game.