Hanwha Eagles foreign pitcher Felix Peña continued his strong start. The bullpen allowed the tying run to score, but he continues to be an ace.
Hanwha won the ninth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against SSG Landers 4-3 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on April 28.
Peña, who earned the win with a seven-inning no-hitter against SSG on April 9, pitched six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.
It was his 19th start of the season, and his 13th quality start. He continues to be the most reliable pitcher in the Hanwha starting lineup. He continued to pitch well against SSG.
After giving up a single to Choi Ji-hoon and a walk to Choi Jeong in the top of the first inning, he seemed to struggle early on, but struck out Eredia and Choi Joo-hwan to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the second, he struck out two more to end the inning. In the third, he got Choi Ji-hoon to ground out to the first baseman and struck 안전놀이터 out Choi Jeong. He gave up a single up the middle to Heredia, but got Choi to fly out to left field to end the inning.
Peña retired the side in order in the fourth inning with a single, and he retired the side in order in the fifth. Then, in the sixth, he gave up a run. Two runs in the second and one in the third gave the team a 3-0 lead.
With one out, Heredia was hit by a pitch. Choi Ju-hwan flied out to right field and gave up a single to Ha Jae-hoon. Kang Jin-sung then grounded out to the shortstop.
Peña gave up a single to Park Sung-ho. Heredia stole second, rounded third, and came home. Peña scored a run, but center fielder Moon Hyun-bin fumbled the ball. In the meantime, first baseman Ha Jae-hoon stole second and third and reached home.
The unfortunate fielding error cut Hanwha’s lead to one run. Peña didn’t falter and kept the lead. The bullpen blew Peña’s win, but Peña pitched his way out of the jam in the second and sixth innings.