(LEAD) Eagles rally past Heroes for 10th straight win in KBO
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By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 9 (Yonhap) — For the first time in the 21st century, the Hanwha Eagles have won 10 straight games in South Korean baseball.
The Eagles defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 7-5 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul for their 10th consecutive win in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) after rallying from a 4-1 deficit.
The Eagles broke the 4-4 deadlock by scoring three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, a rally that began with a solo shot by Moon Hyun-bin. Chae Eun-seong followed up with an RBI triple and Lee Sang-hyuck delivered a run-scoring double to provide insurance for the winning side.
The Eagles had previously won 10 games in a row in October 1999. They went on to take the Korean Series title that same year.
The franchise record is a 14-game run in 1992, when they were called the Binggrae Eagles.
Moon Hyun-bin of the Hanwha Eagles celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Kiwoom Heroes during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on May 9, 2025. (Yonhap)
The first-place Eagles improved to 25-13-0 (wins-losses-ties) and increased their lead over the idle LG Twins to 1.5 games. The Heroes remained in last place at 13-28-0.
The Heroes scored all five of their runs via solo home runs.
Leadoff man Song Sung-mun homered on the very first pitch of the game against starter Um Sang-back to set the early tone for the Heroes. Two batters later, Lee Ju-hyoung followed suit with his own solo home run for a 2-0 Heroes lead.
The Eagles cut the deficit in half in the top of the third thanks to three straight singles off starter Ha Yeong-min, the third being an RBI knock by Moon.
Their big mashers failed to keep the line moving, though, as both Roh Si-hwan and Chae Eun-seong struck out against Ha.
Chae Eun-seong of the Hanwha Eagles celebrates after hitting an RBI triple against the Kiwoom Heroes during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on May 9, 2025. (Yonhap)
The Heroes launched two more home runs in the bottom fourth. Kim Tae-jin led off the frame with a solo shot to right field and then Yasiel Puig drilled a solo homer to left field to put the Heroes up 4-1.
Estevan Florial’s solo shot off Ha in the top fifth brought the Eagles back within two runs. Then with Ha out of the game, the Eagles pulled into a tie with two runs in the top seventh.
New pitcher Oh Seok-joo gave up two straight pinch-hit singles that put runners at the corners for Hwang Young-mook, who cashed in a run with an infield single. The hit knocked Oh out of the game, after the right-hander failed to retire a batter.
Facing Yoon Hyun with men at first and second, Florial flied out to deep center field that allowed both runners to advance. Then Moon Hyun-bin hit a sacrifice fly to left to tie the score at 4-4.
Both teams wasted a chance to pull ahead — the Heroes in the bottom seventh and the Eagles in the top eighth — before Moon gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with one swing.
Hanwha Eagles players celebrate their 7-5 win over the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on May 9, 2025. (Yonhap)
With two outs, Moon jumped on the first-pitch forkball from Ju Seung-woo and put it in the seats in right field for his seventh home run of the season — and his third in May.
After Roh Si-hwan singled and stole second, Chae cashed him in with a triple. Lee Sang-hyuck then picked up his first career RBI with a double for a 7-4 lead.
Lee Ju-hyoung hit his second solo homer of the game in the bottom ninth for the Heroes, though it was way too little, too late.
Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon told reporters before the game he’d prefer not to talk about the team’s winning streak, because he didn’t want to burden his players.
Kim even said he didn’t want to use the words “winning streak” in his media scrums. And in his postgame comment, Kim avoided using those dreaded words.
“It was a difficult game but our players stayed locked in and pulled out this comeback win,” Kim said. “Our fans gave us so much energy with their enthusiastic cheering. I am grateful for their support.”
The Eagles will send their ace Cody Ponce to the mound for Saturday’s game back at the dome. Ponce is 6-0 with a 1.70 ERA and leads the KBO with 66 strikeouts. It will be Ponce’s first game against the Heroes.
Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon acknowledges fans after his team’s 7-5 win over the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on May 9, 2025. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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