It was a shocking early exit due to a fast performance.

The dream of an 8-game winning streak for the professional baseball team LG Twins was dashed early when the starting pitcher was pulled after not completing even one inning and allowing 8 earned runs. This was an even more shocking result given that Hernandez had showcased an 'average earned run average of 0' in 5 games against KT Wiz in last year's playoffs.

LG lost to KT 5-9 in their first matchup of the season on the 2nd at Suwon KT Wiz Park. The momentum shifted in the first inning.

LG's first inning was marked by a walk from Hong Chang-ki, a hit from Song Chan-yi, and another walk from Austin, creating a one out bases loaded opportunity but managing to score only one point, which was concerning. Moon Bo-kyung drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to left field, and after a double steal, there was a chance with one out at second and third base to put pressure on KT's starting pitcher Oh Won-seok. However, Park Dong-won struck out, and Oh Ji-hwan also went down swinging, failing to capitalize on additional scoring opportunities.

LG's starting pitcher Hernandez allowed the first batter, Rojas, to walk on the eighth pitch in the bottom of the first inning. He also gave up a double, hitting the left-center field wall to Kang Baek-ho, allowing the game to be tied at 1-1 while facing only 2 batters. He managed to get Heo Kyung-min to swing and miss for a strikeout, but he walked Kim Min-hyeok again. With one out and runners on first and second, he conceded a bases-clearing double to Jang Sung-woo, who hit the upper part of the left field wall, turning the score to 1-3.

He allowed another walk to Kim Sang-soo and then faced a crisis with one out and the bases loaded after a hit from Oh Yun-seok. He had 2 outs with a sacrifice fly from Bae Jeong-dae but conceded the fourth run. The runners on first and second base advanced a base each due to a tag-up.

With two outs and runners on second and third, the matchup against number nine hitter Kwon Dong-jin was crucial. If Kwon Dong-jin had been retired and the inning had ended at a score of 1-4, LG might have had a chance to catch up in the middle innings, especially since KT's starting pitcher Oh Won-seok did not have a great record against LG, with a career earned run average of 8.25.

However, he allowed Kwon Dong-jin to hit a two-run double to the right field, widening the score to 1-6. He hit Rojas with a two-run homer in his second at-bat of the first inning, resulting in a score of 1-8, which he could not recover from.

Eventually, LG's pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam visited the mound for the second time, leading to Hernandez's exit. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), 3 walks, and 8 earned runs. Hernandez, who had obtained a victory with 7 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, and no earned runs against Hanwha on March 25, saw his earned run average skyrocket from 0 to 9.39.

LG found themselves down 9-3 but had a bases loaded opportunity in the 5th inning and managed to pull Oh Won-seok, making the score 9-5, amplifying the disappointment of Hernandez's 8 earned runs in the first inning.

Hernandez made an appearance as a relief pitcher against KT last year, recording a scoreless inning. He had appeared in all 5 games against KT during last year's playoffs, pitching 7 and 1/3 innings with no earned runs, 2 saves, and 1 hold, showcasing an earned run average of 0. However, the shocking early exit after allowing 8 earned runs with 2 outs in the first matchup this year thwarted LG's hopes of an 8-game winning streak.

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