안전놀이터Toronto Blue Jays Ryu Hyun-jin was replaced with only one out left to meet the winning pitcher requirement. It is said that trust has fallen that much, but given the circumstances of the game, it was warranted.
Ryu Hyun-jin started the 2023 Major League game against the Boston Red Sox held at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada on the 18th (Korean time).
Ryu Hyun-jin pitched 83 pitches in 4⅔ innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and no runs. Toronto won 3-2. Ryu Hyun-jin stepped down without a win or loss. He maintained a 3-3 record on the season and lowered his earned run average from 2.93 to 2.62.
Ryu Hyun-jin did not give up any runs and the team won, so it was a happy ending, but it was a bit disappointing because they lost the winning pitcher right in front of them.
Ryu Hyun-jin faced a crisis in the top of the 5th inning with a 1-0 lead.
He directly handled lead hitter Sedan Rafaela with a pitcher’s ground ball. After one out, Rob Refsnyder was sent out on an infield hit, and anxiety set in. However, Ryu Hyun-jin maintained his composure by striking out Justin Turner with a missed swing. A cut fastball with a low course avoided Turner’s bat.
Now, with just one out count, the requirement for 4 wins was met. Ryu Hyun-jin walked Rafael Devers after a six-pitch match. A four-seam fastball thrown at a full count went outside the strike zone.
The Toronto bench moved when Adam Duval was at bat with 2 outs and 1st and 2nd bases. Although runners piled up, Ryu Hyun-jin was on a scoreless streak. He is not a rookie who has just arrived in the major leagues, and it may have felt like a somewhat harsh decision for a pitcher who was once an ace.
However, Toronto was not in a position to look into such personal circumstances. Toronto is in a very close race with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners to advance to the wild card, within one game of winning. The importance of one point in this game was as important as the one-point lead that had to be maintained with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Duvall even attacked Ryu Hyun-jin’s balls quite well in his previous two at-bats. In his first at-bat, he hit a double. Although the second at-bat was a fly ball to right field, it was a hard hit with an exit speed of 98.1 miles (about 158 km).
Imi Garcia, who made a relief appearance in place of Ryu Hyun-jin, struck out Duvall and proved that the bench decision was correct.
