The last-place Hanwha Eagles swept the top-ranked LG Twins for their second straight win after an eight-game losing streak.
Hanwha, led by head coach Choi Won-ho, won 5-3 at home against LG in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League on Wednesday at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. After snapping an eight-game losing streak on Feb. 2, Hanwha won for the second consecutive day to complete a sweep and improve its record to 44-61 on the season.
Moon, who is limited to 120 innings this season and will finish the year preparing for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, allowed three runs on 11 hits (one home run) with two walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Throwing a total of 105 pitches on the day, Moon used a fastball that topped out at 157 km/h, mixed with a curveball, changeup, and slider against the LG lineup. Despite facing a lot of hits, he was unable to complete the fifth inning due to the high pitch count and had to leave the game.
After the game, Coach Choi Won-ho said, “Moon Dong-ju pitched his last game of the season today, and I want to tell him that he had a hard season.” He greeted Moon Dong-ju after he finished his last game. Having fulfilled his duties this season, Moon will soon be removed from the first-team roster and will recover at the Seosan Secondary Stadium to prepare for the Asian Games. The Asian Games baseball team will convene in late September and play in early October. Here’s a one-on-one with Moon.
-On whether it was a bittersweet game.
“Actually, it was my last game, so I wanted to show a lot of good stuff, but I got hit a lot. There were a lot of unfavorable counts, and overall, I think I was a little disappointed. If I had gotten fewer hits and had a better outcome, I would have been fine, but now that the outcome is bad, I’m even more disappointed.”
-On if he was conscious of it being his last start of the season.
“I pitched as if it was one inning, one last inning, and I think I really pitched the best I could today, rather than trying to control my pitches.”
-On if there was anything he wasn’t happy with, like his balance.
“I don’t think it was perfect. It wasn’t as perfect as I thought it was going to be, but I knew I was going to have to make pitches in those situations, so I tried to get out of those situations as much as I could, and I tried to get hitters out.”
-On working a lot of full counts in the first inning.
“I think I got three hits in the first inning, and I think I got more hits because LG’s bats are strong, but I had that in mind, so I was trying not to get hit, so it was a little long. I threw with the same feeling, but I think I was off-balance.”
-On whether he was disappointed not to be able to continue playing with the first team until he made the national team.
“I want to help my team win, but I think I have to be grateful because the club made the decision for me. I just need to go to the Asian Games and come back with a good result.”
-On whether he had any desire to throw more or try for 10 wins.
“I would like to keep throwing until the off-season, but that’s my heart and I should have thrown well when I had the chance. Even if I had a great career-high season, any athlete is going to be disappointed, so I think I’ll use that disappointment to work harder for the Asian Games.”
-On her season as a whole, which she says was a big improvement.
“First of all, I’m happy that I’m not sick and I’m doing well. It’s not the end of the season yet, so I think I’ve achieved my goal because I’m not sick and I’m doing well.”
-Self-grading.
“I’m not sick and I’m doing well, so I think I’m at 100 so far. I didn’t set any record goals this year, so I’m not getting hurt this year and I’m still in the rotation, so I’m a 100 on that front. Actually, I’m going to have to look at the baseball part again. It’s hard for me to give a grade.”
-On hearing he’s headed to Seosan.
“I haven’t gotten my schedule yet, so I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but as soon as I get it, I’m going to prepare hard.”메이저놀이터
-If you’re feeling good after the Asian Games, you might be tempted to go out and throw one or two more games.
“I don’t think it’s up to me to decide”