The Hanwha Eagles’ aspirations of making a comeback in the KBO League have been dashed as they faced a heartbreaking 5-6 walk-off defeat against the SSG Landers on October 1st. The game, held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon, highlighted both teams’ resilience but ultimately showcased Hanwha’s struggles when it mattered most.
SSG Landers set the tone early, with leadoff hitter Park Sung-han hitting a remarkable 125-meter solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, marking his seventh home run of the season. However, Hanwha responded in the top of the third, as Moon Hyun-bin contributed an RBI single, which was followed by a series of plays that capitalized on an error by SSG’s third baseman, allowing them to score additional runs.
The game saw Hanwha take a significant lead in the seventh inning. After a pinch-hit double from Choi In-ho, Lee Do-yoon contributed with another timely hit, and Lee Jin-young drove a two-run home run that electrified the Eagles’ dugout. Their momentum surged as they scored multiple runs in that inning.
Despite appearing to be in control, Hanwha’s lead slipped away in the bottom of the ninth. Closer Kim Seo-hyun was unable to secure the win, yielding a two-run hit to pinch hitter Hyun Won-hoe and another two-run shot to Lee Yul-ye, which sealed the Eagles’ fate.
With this loss, Hanwha’s recorded victories now stand at 83, while SSG’s triumph enabled LG to clinch the regular league title, effectively ending the Eagles’ hopes for a turnaround in the standings. The day concluded with the Eagles being positioned for a critical match against Suwon KT Wiz on October 3, where a victory could have set the stage for a tiebreaker for first place.
Meanwhile, Cody Ponce, who started for Hanwha, demonstrated an impressive performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters and attaining 252 strikeouts for the season, which places him in the leading position for strikeouts among pitchers, further solidifying his status as one of the standout foreign pitchers in the league.
Despite the disappointment of their recent loss, Hanwha’s lineup remains strong, and they hold the potential to end their season on a high note, focusing on upcoming challenges. Fans will be looking forward to see if the Eagles can rally and make a strong showing in their next game.