'Returning ace' Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) used 'really seasoned pitching' to shake off a slump and become a streak stopper. 

The Hanwha Eagles won their third game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Doosan Bears 3-0 at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday. 

Hanwha snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 9-7 on the season. They tasted victory exactly one week after losing to Lotte in Daejeon on April 4. 

The hero of the game was the "99th ace," Ryu Hyun-jin. After a three-game winless streak and an 8.36 ERA since his return, he bounced back with six innings of one-hit ball, two walks and eight strikeouts. It was his first win since returning from a three-game absence and his 99th career KBO victory, 4,216 days after his first since Sept. 25, 2012, against Jamsil Doosan. 

Ryu completed his artistic pitching arsenal with a changeup (32), curveball (31), and cutter (19) in addition to his fastball, which topped out at 148 mph on the day. His strike (67) to ball (27) ratio was perfect. His changeup and curve were artistic. 

Hanwha had been on a losing streak since May 5 안전놀이터 against Gochuk Kiwoom, when Ryu rebounded from a nine-run outing in 4 1/3 innings.

At the plate, Ahn Chi-hong went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the first inning to help Ryu get his first win of the season.

After the game, Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho said, "Ryu Hyun-jin pitched a perfect game and shut down the opposing bats to get his first win and snap the team's losing streak. It was a very seasoned pitching performance. In the bullpen, Jang Si-hwan, Han Seung-hyuk, and Joo Hyun-sang secured the win with good relief." "In the batting order, I would like to praise Ahn Chi-hong, who has been doing his job quietly. His form has been improving lately, and today, when the team needed him, he hit well and contributed to the win," he said with a satisfied smile. 

Hanwha will play a three-game weekend series at home against the KIA Tigers starting on the 12th. Felix Peña (Hanwha) and Yoon Young-cheol (KIA) are expected to start the first game.