Ryu Hyun-jin fails to reach 100 wins… collapsed due to defense and ABS

Ryu Hyun-jin (37, Hanwha Eagles)’s 100th win in the KBO League was once again lost.

Ryu Hyun-jin collapsed with 7 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings in an away game against KT held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 24th. Ryu Hyun-jin handed over the mound to Jang Min-jae in the 6th inning, trailing 1-7.

Ryu Hyun-jin earned his 99th career win by pitching 6 scoreless innings against Doosan on April 11, but pitched decently in the win against NC on April 17, allowing 3 runs in 7 innings, but failed to accumulate wins. He continued to pitch well but was hit by a 3-run home run and was unable to achieve victory.

In the game on the 24th, the team collapsed due to an unfortunate ABS ball decision and a fielder’s error. He was clean in the first and second innings. He easily ended both innings with a three-way error.

However, in the third inning, Ryu Hyun-jin’s sharp control slightly deviated from the strike zone determined by ABS. If the referee had determined the ball count, a ball that could have been considered a strike was declared a ball in the ABS zone. When the ball that Ryu Hyun-jin thought was a strike was ruled as a ball, she made a stern expression and even made an action that seemed to ask the dugout to check.

Ryu Hyun-jin gave up two straight walks in the third inning alone, putting himself in danger with one out and runners on first and second base. Ryu Hyun-jin ended up giving up consecutive hits to Cheon Seong-ho and Kang Baek-ho, allowing two runs. A double play was ensued with one out and runners on 1st and 3rd base, but while 1st baseman Chae Eun-seong was catching a high throw thrown to 1st base by 2nd baseman Tae-yeon Kim, his foot fell off the base, giving the home run to 3rd base runner Seong-ho Cheon. 1-3.

Ryu Hyun-jin gave up 4 runs in the 4th inning. He could have given up only one point if he had been supported by a solid defense, but once again the infield was shaky and he gave up a large number of runs. Ryu Hyun-jin’s pitch count was 79.