Kiwoom Heroes’ ace Ahn Woo-jin led the team’s 3-game losing streak by pitching 7 scoreless innings.
Ahn Woo-jin started in the home game against KT Wiz in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 25th and led Kiwoom’s 1-0 victory with 7 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts and no runs.
Woo-jin Ahn blocked KT’s other line by demonstrating the power of pitching no hits until he was hit by Anthony Alford in the 7th inning.
An Woo-jin,메이저사이트 who won his second win (one loss) of the season, lowered his ERA from 1.08 to 0.84. In addition, while continuing the quality start of the season (6 or more starting innings, 3 earned runs or less), the strikeout rate was 46, firmly maintaining the first place in this category.
Kiwoom recorded 9 wins and 11 losses in the season thanks to Ahn Woo-jin’s performance, and rose to 6th place, beating KT (7 wins, 2 draws, 9 losses).
On the other hand, KT only had 5 consecutive draws (1 draw and 4 losses). KT starting pitcher Eom Sang-baek endured with 4 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts and 1 run in 5 innings, but suffered the first loss of the season as he was unable to score support from the other line.
On the 21st and 23rd, Kiwoom, who was swept in three consecutive matches with SSG Landers and Literature, put An Woo-jin as the stopper for consecutive losses on this day.
Last year, An Woo-jin ranked 1st in ERA (2.11) and strikeouts (224), tied for 2nd in wins (15 wins) and won the Golden Glove pitcher category, becoming the league ace, but this KT match could be a turning point. Woojin Ahn had the highest average ERA for each opponent team, including 8 runs against KT last year, at 5.11.
However, this was just a whim. Ahn Woo-jin also made an overwhelming pitch against KT, which was difficult on the day. KT also made the number of wins by placing Moon Sang-cheol, An Woo-jin’s natural enemy, in the 6th batting order, but An Woo-jin tied KT’s batting line tightly. He struck out seven while allowing only one hit.
Kiwoom’s beast mistakes came out in the beginning of the 4th and 5th innings, but An Woo-jin did not shake much. Woo-jin Ahn threw Alford out in the top of the 4th inning due to a throwing error by shortstop Edison Russell, then threw a wild throw and was driven into scoring position for the first time. However, he immediately struck out Byeong-ho Park and Seong-woo Jang with a shortstop ground ball to end the inning.
Even in the top of the 5th inning, lead hitter Moon Sang-cheol went on base due to third baseman Kim Hui-jip’s throwing error, but Oh Yun-seok caught a foul fly and Lee Sang-ho caught a double stroke to continue the scoreless streak.
At the end of the 5th inning, Kiwoom scored 1 point with Lee Yong-gyu’s timely hit and lightened Ace’s shoulders, and the biggest crisis came to An Woo-jin at the beginning of the 7th inning.
Ahn Woo-jin, who was throwing a no-hit pitch, got his first hit from lead batter Alford in the top of the 7th inning and even allowed second base to be stolen. An Woo-jin, who then guided Park Byeong-ho to a pitcher ground ball, threw the ball to third base after the catch, but Alford touched third base faster than third baseman Kim Hui-jib’s tag. By choosing a pitcher and a fielder, he became 1st and 3rd base safely.
However, Ahn Woo-jin showed his strength and kept the lead by 1 point. After dealing Jang Seong-woo with a catcher foul fly, he caught Moon Sang-cheol’s bunt and quickly tossed it to catcher Lee Ji-young and caught Alford at home. Afterwards, he set up pinch hitter Kim Joon-tae with a strikeout on a swing and roared.
Kiwoom started the bullpen from the beginning of the 8th inning and blocked KT’s counterattack. Kim Dong-hyuk and Kim Jae-woong each pitched one inning without a run and kept the victory by one point.