The foreign pitcher Ponce of the Hanwha Eagles is being regarded as the best pitcher in the league this season. He has created expectations for a 'triple crown' with wins, earned run average, and strikeouts. However, a strong competitor has emerged: Anderson of the SSG Landers.

Youm Kyoung-youb, the LG manager, noted on the 28th at Jamsil Stadium that when the talk of Hanwha's Ponce came up, he expected, "I think Ponce will achieve a triple crown." He then smiled and said, "It's not easy to achieve an undefeated record. It's about time we had a loss, and I hope it will be against us."

Ponce had perfect pitching against the LG lineup until the 3rd inning. He struck out leadoff batter Shin Min-jae with a 145km cutter, marking his 100th strikeout of the season.

Before the game, Ponce had recorded 97 strikeouts in 11 games. In his 12th game, he recorded his 100th strikeout of the season, setting the record for the fewest games to reach this milestone. He matched the legendary record of his teammate Ryu Hyun-jin, who achieved 100 strikeouts in his 12th game on June 24, 2012, against Doosan.

Ponce gave up solo home runs to Kim Hyun-soo in the 4th inning and to Lee Young-bin in the 6th inning. He had allowed two runs with a quality start (QS) even up until the 6th inning. However, issues arose in the 7th inning defense. After a hit by pitch and a single, there were runners on first and second with no outs. LG attempted to create a first and third situation with a sacrifice bunt. When Gu Bon-hyeok was at bat in a bunt stance, the Hanwha battery attempted a pitch-out on the second pitch, resulting in both runners being thrown out in a double play.

At this moment, third baseman Roh Si-hwan received the throw from the catcher to the second baseman but did not focus on tagging out the runner at second and instead threw to second base in an attempt to get the runner at first. As a result, both runners at second and third were safe. Ponce faced a crisis with no outs and runners on second and third, but he struck out Gu Bon-hyeok with a swinging strikeout and then struck out pinch hitter Oh Ji-hwan on three pitches. However, after getting two outs, he allowed a hit to Park Hae-min that took a fortunate bounce to left field, tying the game at 4-4. It was a hit that fell between the third baseman, shortstop, and left fielder.

If Roh Si-hwan had managed to get just the runner at second, it would have been two runs that they could have avoided. Ponce pitched 7 innings, allowing 6 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, and 4 runs, resulting in no decision. Ponce's potential victory was derailed, and he now holds a record of 8 wins and no losses over 12 games (79 innings) with an earned run average of 1.94 and 105 strikeouts. He has fallen to second place in the earned run average category.

Anderson of the SSG Landers holds the top spot in earned run average. He has recorded 4 wins and 2 losses over 11 games, with an earned run average of 1.85. He has continued to dominate with 19 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 3 games, achieving 26 strikeouts across those games, placing him second after Ponce with a season total of 93 strikeouts.

Anderson struggled with an earned run average of 7.27 in the 2 games he pitched in March. However, he drastically improved after returning from paternity leave in early April. In 4 games in April (25 innings), he recorded 1 win and 1 loss, with an earned run average of 1.80 and 44 strikeouts. In May, he showcased powerful pitching with 3 wins and no losses over 5 games (29⅔ innings), an earned run average of 0.30, and 39 strikeouts. In May, he allowed just 1 earned run (3 runs total).

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