‘Benjamin 8 innings, 11 K’ KT, ‘Ryu Hyun-jin’s 100th win’ with red pepper powder… 7-1 complete win

KT Wiz put the brakes on Ryu Hyun-jin’s (Hanwha) challenge for his 100th win thanks to starter Wes Benjamin’s fight.

KT won 7-1 in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League game against Hanwha Eagles held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do on the 24th.

KT, which recorded two consecutive wins, maintained 9th place with a season record of 9 wins, 1 draw, and 18 losses.

Hanwha, which suffered four consecutive losses, now has 11 wins and 15 losses (8th place). The gap with 9th place KT has decreased to 2.5 games.

KT starter Benjamin pitched well, allowing 2 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 11 strikeouts, and 1 run in 8 innings, earning his 3rd win (1 loss) of the season. In particular, following the game against Kiwoom on the 18th (8 scoreless innings), he took charge of 8 innings in 2 consecutive games, showing off his ‘ace’ appearance.

In the batting lineup, catcher Jang Seong-woo had 3 hits in 4 at-bats, and Kang Baek-ho (3 hits in 5 at-bats) and Cheon Seong-ho (2 hits in 5 at-bats) also showed off their good batting skills.

On the other hand, Hanwha Ryu Hyun-jin failed to achieve 100 career wins this time. Ryu Hyun-jin suffered his 3rd loss (1 win) of the season, allowing 7 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 7 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings. He was battered after receiving no defensive help whatsoever.

KT conceded a goal first. In the top of the first inning, Hanwha’s Jonathan Peraza hit a solo home run (7th of the season). Afterwards, in the first and second episodes, he was tied up and dragged away by Ryu Hyun-jin.

However, he showed concentration in the bottom of the third inning. Ryu Hyun-jin’s control was shaky and he walked Cho Yong-ho and Kim Sang-soo, and Cheon Seong-ho’s timely hit on first and second bases with one out and runners tied the game. In the ensuing chance, Kang Baek-ho’s additional timely hit turned the game around.

Then, Mel Rojas Jr. hit a double play, which seemed to end the inning, but video review confirmed that it was safe at first base, allowing the runner on third base to score.

In the 4th inning, they took advantage of Hanwha’s poor defense and succeeded in scoring a large number of points. With Jang Seong-woo’s double and Hwang Jae-gyun’s sacrifice bunt on third base and one out, Cho Yong-ho’s missed ball failed to cover Hanwha’s base and resulted in an infield hit.

In the ensuing situation, second baseman Kim Tae-yeon was unable to catch Ahn Chi-young’s ground ball to shortstop, so all runners survived, making it 4-1, and Kim Sang-soo’s double extended the score to 6-1.

KT later added one more point thanks to Cheon Seong-ho’s infield hit and the opponent’s error, and ran away to 7-1, solidifying their victory.

Benjamin, backed by ample support from the batting line, fought back. He went through the inning without any major problems, and in the 6th inning with no outs on first and second base, he overcame the crisis by hitting Jin-young Lee with a double play.

He threw 99 pitches through the 8th inning and played his role more than 120% of the time.

KT ended the game by putting Woo Gyu-min on the mound in the 9th inning.

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