Toronto Blue Jays’ ‘Korean Monster’ Ryu Hyun-jin (36) ended the regular season with a top speed of 90.8 miles (146 km). Although Ryu Hyun-jin left the mound after only 3 innings in his last appearance of the season, he returned after undergoing Tommy John surgery and had a successful comeback season.
Ryu Hyun-jin took the mound as a starting pitcher in the 2023 Major League Baseball home game against the Tampa Bay Rays held at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the 1st (Korean time).
Toronto won 11-4 in the game against Tampa Bay on the 30th of last month and reduced the magic number to advance to the postseason to 1. Toronto, which is located in 3rd place in the American League East Division, has no way to advance to the postseason other than winning a wild card as the Baltimore Orioles confirmed the championship of the American League East division and Tampa Bay, 2nd place in the division, secured a wild card. It was.
Originally, Ryu Hyun-jin was scheduled to pitch as a starting pitcher against Tampa Bay on the 30th of last month, but Toronto switched the pitching order of Ryu Hyun-jin and Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi threw 76 pitches in 5 innings against Tampa Bay, allowing 5 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs, earning his 11th win (6 losses) of the season. In that way, Toronto was able to maintain second place in the American League wild card. If the wild card 4th place Seattle Mariners had lost to the Texas Rangers, Toronto’s magic number to advance to the postseason could have completely disappeared, but as Seattle won 8-0 over Texas, the magic number 1 did not disappear.
Now it was Ryu Hyun-jin’s turn. The game in which Ryu Hyun-jin appeared was the game in which Toronto was able to erase the magic number 1 on its own and confirm advancement to the postseason.
On this day, Toronto had starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, as well as George Springer (designated hitter), Caban Biggio (right fielder), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first baseman), and Bo Bisset ( Shortstop) – Alejandro Kirk (catcher) – Kevin Kiermaier (center fielder) – Matt Chapman (3rd baseman) – Whit Merrifield (2nd baseman) – Dalton Basho (left fielder) filled the batting order from 1st to 9th. 바카라사이트닷컴
Ryu Hyun-jin and Kirk’s chemistry in battery life attracted attention. Ryu Hyun-jin worked with Danny Jansen the most after joining Toronto, but he needed a new partner as Jansen ended the season on the operating table with a fracture in his right middle finger last September. Ryu Hyun-jin, who had worked with Tyler Heineman in the battery after Jansen was absent due to injury, reunited with Kirk for the first time in a year and a half.
The only time Ryu Hyun-jin worked with Kirk in the battery was in the home game against the Oakland Athletics on April 17 last year. At that time, Ryu Hyun-jin did not allow a single walk out in 4 innings, but performed poorly, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs.
Tampa Bay, which has already confirmed its advancement to the postseason, has Junior Caminero (3rd baseman), Randy Arozarena (left fielder), Harold Ramirez (designated hitter), Isaac Paredis (1st baseman), Curtis Mead (2nd baseman), and Josh Rowe (2nd baseman). The starting lineup consisted of right fielder) – Manuel Margot (center fielder) – Christian Betancourt (catcher) – Taylor Walls (shortstop) and starting pitcher right-hander Sean Armstrong. Armstrong made his first start since August 25 against the Colorado Rockies. At that time, he served as the opener, allowing 2 hits and no runs in 2 innings.
The absence of Tampa Bay’s key hitter Yandy Diaz from the starting lineup was good news for Ryu Hyun-jin. Diaz, who was selected as an American League All-Star this season with a batting average of .330, 22 home runs, and 78 RBIs, also showed off his hot bat by going 4-for-4 with 1 RBI and 1 run, including hitting a home run as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning against Ryu Hyun-jin on the 24th of last month. .
Ryu Hyun-jin pitched 89 pitches in 4⅓ innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 5 runs. It was painful to hit only 3 home runs. Starting with a home run by Diaz as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning, he also hit a home run by Low in the bottom of the first inning and Betancourt in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ryu Hyun-jin’s ERA rose to 3.31, and Toronto avoided defeat by coming back to 6-5 in the top of the eighth inning. At that time, Toronto lost 6-7.
Ryu Hyun-jin grounded out the lead hitter, Caminero, after 2 pitches to the 3rd baseman. The deciding ball was an 87 mile (140 km) cutter. But then the ordeal began. Even though he got two strikes against Arozarena first, the 81 mph (130 km) changeup he threw outward on the third pitch led to a double that hit the right fence. Then, Ryu Hyun-jin, who caught Ramirez with a strike on the first pitch, threw a 73-mile (118 km) curve on the second pitch, but this led to a left-handed hit, putting him in danger with one out and first and third bases.
The next opponent is 4th hitter Paredis. Ryu Hyun-jin threw a 79 mph (127 km) changeup that hit Paredis in the strike zone below the outside of the first pitch, but the result was a timely hit in the middle of the pitch, and he had no choice but to watch as third base runner Arozarena scored. Crisis with 1 out and 1st and 2nd bases. Ryu Hyun-jin was no longer shaken. Ryu Hyun-jin, who threw an 87 mph (140 km) cutter to Mid and struck out on three pitches, caught Low with a foul fly out from the third baseman and ended the inning without allowing any additional runs.
Toronto also showed movement in its attack in the bottom of the first inning. After one out, Biggio reached base with a walk, and Guerrero Jr. also reached first base with a walk, giving Toronto a chance to reach first and second base with one out. However, as Bissett retired with a fly out to right field and Kirk also grounded out to shortstop, Toronto had to end the inning without scorin
In the top of the second inning, when Toronto was down 0-1, Ryu Hyun-jin threw a four-pitch, 90 mph (145 km) four-seam fastball to leadoff hitter Margot, which resulted in a heavy hit and allowed him to get on base. Ryu Hyun-jin, who took a breather by treating Betancourt with a ground ball out to shortstop, caught Walls with a fly out to center field and then treated Caminero with a fly out to second base, succeeding in ending the inning without giving up any runs.
Tampa Bay replaced the pitcher with right-hander Cooper Criswell at the start of the bottom of the second inning. Toronto’s attack in the bottom of the second inning ended in failure. Kiermaier retired with a pitcher’s ground ball out, Chapman also ended up with a fly out to second base, and Merrifield’s batted ball also ended up being a ground ball out to third base. All three batters’ batted balls did not leave the infield.
Toronto is still behind 0-1. Ryu Hyun-jin engaged in a full-count battle with leadoff hitter Arozarena in the top of the third inning. Ryu Hyun-jin, who threw an 88 mph (142 km) cutter on the 6th pitch, caught it with a fly out to right field, blocking the leadoff hitter from getting on base.
The problem started after that. Ryu Hyun-jin, who threw a 3-pitch 88 mph (142 km) cutter to Ramirez at ball count 1B 1S and hit the right field as it headed to the center, threw a 7-ball 79 mph (127 km) changeup to the outside to Paredis at ball count 2B 2S, but it also hit the left field. This led to a scoring crisis.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s pitching was extremely unsettling. Ryu Hyun-jin, who allowed three balls in a row to Midfielder, managed to get it with a fly out to right field after a full count game, but Rowe was hit with a timely double that hit the right fence with a one-bound, so all you had to do was watch the scene where Ramirez, the runner on second base, stepped on home plate. did. The 87 mile (140 km) cutter thrown on the second pitch at a ball count of 1S was the sacrifice for a double. Then Ryu Hyun-jin shook his head and made a gesture indicating that he was not satisfied with his pitching.
The ensuing crisis with 2 outs and 2nd and 3rd bases. Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned to pitching after the pitching coach’s visit, treated Margot with a flyout to left field and ended the inning without allowing any additional runs. Throwing a 73 mile (118 km) curveball on the first pitch worked.
Then Toronto also launched a counterattack. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff hitter Basho hit a solo home run. It was Basho’s 20th home run of the season. Basho boasted a hot hitting ability, hitting 4 home runs in the last 10 games. Basho, who is in his first season after moving to Toronto, has hit 20 home runs for two consecutive years. He is a hitter who hit 27 home runs last year while playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Toronto attempted to tie the game when Biggio walked with one out, but Guerrero Jr. struck out on a missed swing and Bisset hit a pitcher’s grounder, so they had to be satisfied with trailing by one point, 1-2.
Toronto, who had to win this game due to the ensuing comeback, made a move to replace Ryu Hyun-jin. Right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards took the mound in the top of the fourth inning. Richards proved that Toronto’s choice was right by striking out leadoff hitter Betancourt on a swing, followed by Walls with a flyout to left field, and Caminero with a groundout to first base.
This time it was Toronto’s bat’s turn to move. In the bottom of the fourth inning, leadoff hitter Kirk opened the game with a hit to right, and Kiermaier walked, leading to a scoring opportunity. Chapman’s batted ball was called out by right fielder Rowe, who made a sliding catch, but shortstop Walls was unable to catch Merrifield’s batted ball and made an error, giving him a chance to get the bases loaded with one out.
Basho, who hit a home run in his last at-bat, did not miss the opportunity to hit the bases loaded. He hit a timely hit to right-center, leading two runners to score. It was the moment when Toronto went back to 3-2. Toronto was not satisfied with this and succeeded in running away with a 4-2 score by adding one point thanks to Springer’s timely hit to the right. However, there were no additional goals. Chances followed with one out and runners on first and second base, but both Biggio and Guerrero Jr. struck out and retired.
Toronto’s joy was short-lived. Toronto faced defense in the top of the 5th inning with a 4-2 lead, but leadoff hitter Arozarena walked and Ramirez hit a 2-run home run to left-center, quickly tying the game at 4-4. It was Ramirez’s 12th home run of the season. With this, Ramirez broke his career high in home runs. Previously, the 11 goals he recorded during his time with the Miami Marlins in 2019 were a personal record, but he surpassed that with 12 this year.
Toronto replaced pitchers with left-handed pitcher Genesis Cabrera after Richards hit a home run from Ramirez, then struck out Paredis to center field and struck out Midfielder on a missed swing. Cabrera hit a double to center field from Rowe, but caught Margot on a flyout to center field and overcame the crisis with two outs and two outs.
Tampa Bay also replaced pitchers. In the bottom of the 5th inning, right-hander Andrew Kittredge was brought on the mound. Toronto looked helpless in the bottom of the 5th inning, with Bichette striking out on a missed swing. Kirk got a groundout to shortstop, and Kiermaier got a groundout to second base.
Toronto started the top of the 6th inning and brought right-hander Eric Swanson to the mound. However, Swanson was hit by a left-field hit to Bettancourt in the top of the 6th inning, and was driven to third base with no outs due to catcher Kirk’s fastball. Swanson caught Walls on a fly out to shortstop, but walked Caminero, putting him in danger with one out and runners on first and third base. However, Swanson was able to end the inning without allowing a run by setting up Arozarena with a double play that led to third base, second base, and first base.
Toronto faced left-hander Jake Dickman in the bottom of the sixth inning. The result is another tripartite failure. Leadoff hitter Chapman ended up with a fly out to shortstop, and Merrifield also failed with a fly out to right field. Even Basho, who had previously hit a home run and two RBIs, bowed with a groundout to second basema
Toronto changed pitchers again. This time, right-hander Imi Garcia was entrusted with important responsibility. In the top of the 7th inning, Garcia directly caught leadoff hitter Ramirez’s ground ball and threw it to first base, earning an out. He continued the momentum by catching Paredis with a flyout to second baseman, and then threw Mead out with a flyout to first baseman, ending a three-way strike. completed.
Tampa Bay also changed pitchers. Robert Stevenson came on the mound in the bottom of the 7th inning. Toronto failed to score as leadoff hitter Springer struck out on a swing, Biggio retired with a fly out to left field, and even Guerrero Jr. was out with a ground ball to third base. Third baseman Caminero earned an out by making a barehand catch and throwing accurately to first base.
Toronto put right-hander Jordan Romano on the mound in the top of the 8th inning. Romano is Toronto’s tailgater who made 36 saves this year. Romano, who treated leadoff hitter Rowe with a groundout to the catcher, lived up to the expectations of the Toronto bench by catching Margot with a groundout to the second baseman. Romano, who was momentarily shaken by a double to left by Betancourt, caught Walls with a flyout to center field with two outs and two outs on second base, helping maintain the balance at 4-4.
Tampa Bay also used a relief tactic by putting Pete Fairbanks on the mound in the bottom of the 8th inning. Toronto seemed to have a clear path when leadoff hitter Bisset got on base with a walk, but Kirk’s batted ball became a double play that led to the third baseman, second baseman, and first baseman, and they suffered the nightmare of losing the runner in an instant. Kiermaier brought the spark back to life with a right-handed hit, but Chapman disappeared with a fly out to center field, so the offense had to end without any results.
Toronto also had to prevent any more runs. Therefore, right-handed fastball pitcher Jordan Hicks was put on the mound in the top of the 9th inning. Hicks was transferred from the St. Louis Cardinals to Toronto ahead of the last trade deadline, and after moving to Toronto, he played an active role as a key bullpen member, recording 4 saves and 7 holds.
Hicks sent out leadoff hitter Caminero with a single to left, but caught Arozarena with a fly out to shortstop, struck out Ramirez with a missed swing, and then treated Paredis with a groundout to third base, succeeding in keeping the score tied at 4-4.
Toronto’s attack finally arrived in the bottom of the 9th inning. Toronto faced right-hander Chris Devenski. The leadoff hitter was Brandon Belt, who came on as a pinch hitter. When it was Merrifield’s turn, he came to bat instead. However, Belt retired due to a missed swing and a strikeout, and Basho, who appeared after him, was only able to get a pitcher’s grounder out and was quickly cornered with two outs.
Still, Toronto had one out count left. Springer dramatically kept the spark alive by hitting a double to left. Biggio then hit a well-hit ball, but it went into right fielder Rowe’s glove, sending the game to overtime.
Toronto pushed Hicks in the top of the 10th overtime. But this was a defeat. The defense started in the top of the 10th inning with no outs on second base due to a game-winning game. Hicks got off to an easy start by catching Jonathan Aranda, who had come on as a pinch hitter for Mead, with a fly out to center field. Then, Hicks, who filled the empty first base by intentionally sending out Rowe on 4 pitches, also walked Raimel Tapia, who had pinch-hit for Margot, and was in danger of the bases being loaded with one out.
Tampa Bay once again used a pinch-hitting strategy. Diaz was sent out instead of Betancourt. Hicks took a breather by striking out Diaz, but a timely hit to Walls to the right gave him a 4-6 lead. Caminero’s hit also led to an infield hit by the third baseman, and Tapia, a runner on third base, scored, giving the team a 4-6 lead. I gave it away.
Toronto also started the attack in the bottom of the 10th inning with no outs and second base. Guerrero Jr. retired with a fly out to left field, resulting in 1 out, and Bissett hit a timely double to left field to make it 5-7, but Kirk retired with a foul fly out to third base, and Kiermaier also grounded out to second base, making it 5-7. I had to accept defeat.
Toronto, which was unable to advance to the postseason on its own, will obviously be interested in the outcome of the game between Seattle and Texas. If Seattle loses to Texas on this day, Toronto’s magic number could be completely erased. Toronto will play its final game of the season against Tampa Bay on the 2nd.
This day’s game was Ryu Hyun-jin’s last appearance in the regular season. There is only one game left for Toronto.
Ryu Hyun-jin gave up 2 runs while allowing 7 hits in 3 innings and struck out only 1. Sasa-gu did not allow even one. The number of pitches was 52, of which 37 were strikes. He threw a variety of pitches, including four-seam fastballs, change-ups, cutters, and curves, and the highest four-seam fastball velocity was recorded at 90.8 miles (146 km).
He came down from the mound with Toronto trailing 1-2, but it had nothing to do with the win or loss of the game that day. Ryu Hyun-jin ended this season with 3 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 3.46.
Even if Toronto wins one wild card and confirms advancement to the postseason, it seems unlikely that Ryu Hyun-jin will join the wild card series roster. As the Wild Card Series is being played with 2 wins out of 3, it is unclear whether Toronto, which already has the 1st to 4th starters including Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassett, Jose Berrios, and Kikuchi, will add Ryu Hyun-jin to the roster.
If Ryu Hyun-jin does not join the Wild Card Series roster and Toronto fails to advance to the Division Series, today’s game could remain as Ryu Hyun-jin’s last game with Toronto. Ryu Hyun-jin’s four-year, $80 million (approximately 108.4 billion won) contract with Toronto ends after this season. Ryu Hyun-jin, who left the LA Dodgers after the 2019 season and agreed to a free agent contract with Toronto, appeared in 60 games and pitched 315 innings during his four years in Toronto, leaving a record of 24 wins, 15 losses, and an ERA of 3.97. His major league career records include 1,055⅓ innings in 186 games, with 78 wins, 48 losses, and an ERA of 3.27.