Can the Hanwha Eagles secure their first victory against LG at Jamsil Stadium? Hanwha will challenge to break a four-game losing streak against LG with ace Ponce on the mound.

Hanwha will face LG in the season's seventh matchup at Jamsil Stadium on the 28th. The previous day, Hanwha lost a tight pitching duel, 1-2.

Starter Hwang Jun-seo completed his duty with 5 innings and 2 earned runs, followed by bullpen pitchers Kim Jong-soo, Ju Hyun-sang, Kim Beom-Su, Cho Dong-uk, Park Sang-won, who collectively pitched 4 scoreless innings. However, the batting lineup managed only 1 run, resulting in a one-run defeat.

On the 28th, the league's top pitcher, ace Ponce, will take the mound. Ponce has appeared in 11 games this season (72 innings), recording 8 wins and no losses, an earned run average of 1.63, and 97 strikeouts.

He ranks first in earned run average, first in strikeouts, tied for second in wins, and second in innings after Samsung's Hura (12 games, 77⅔ innings). With a WHIP of 0.88, he is first, and his opponent batting average is .177, also first. With these detailed statistics, he is undoubtedly the league's best pitcher. Although it may be early, there are expectations for a potential triple crown (wins, earned run average, strikeouts).

On the 17th, Ponce set a record for the most strikeouts in a single game in KBO history during the first game of a doubleheader against the SSG Landers, with 8 innings, 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, and 18 strikeouts without giving up a run. This is a new strikeout record based on 9 innings in the KBO League, surpassing Ryu Hyun-jin's 17 strikeouts recorded on May 11, 2010, against the LG Twins in Cheongju. This ties the all-time record for the most strikeouts in a game with 18 (in 13 innings) recorded by Sun Dong-yeol against the Binggrae Eagles in June 1991, after 34 years.

Ponce throws a fastball that reaches up to 157 km/h and maintains his stamina through the 7th and 8th innings. His off-speed pitches, including changeups, sliders, and curves, are also highly effective. Notably, his changeup enhances the impact of his fastball at 150 km/h.

LG manager Youm Kyoung-youb praised, "Ponce has a good changeup and throws off-speed pitches well." Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyoung mentioned that Ponce is the best pitcher of the season and could surpass foreign pitchers such as Nippert, who once dominated the KBO League. Manager Kim noted, "His changeup is so effective that hitters find it difficult to attack."

Ponce pitched 101 pitches (7 innings) against NC on April 20, 109 pitches (7 innings) against KT Wiz on April 27, 101 pitches (7 innings) against KIA Tigers on May 4, 110 pitches (6 innings) against Kiwoom Heroes on May 10, and 113 pitches (8 innings) against SSG on May 17.

Ponce was removed after pitching 5 innings and 89 pitches against the NC Dinos in Ulsan on the 22nd. His body seemed to be heavy due to the continued high pitch counts and the record-setting 113 pitches in his last game.

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