Manager Kim Kyung-moon's Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Professional Baseball League achieved their fourth consecutive win in the exhibition games. On the 16th, Hanwha secured a 5-3 rain-shortened victory in the away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park.
Hanwha's starter Ponce showcased a perfect performance with five innings of no hits and no runs. His top speed reached 155 km, mixing pitches of curveballs, forkballs, sliders, and two-seam fastballs. Meanwhile, NC fell into a four-game losing streak. Han Jae-hwan and Shin Yong-seok hit home runs, but the team's defeat overshadowed their achievements.
On this day, there was a rain forecast in the Changwon area, and there was a suggestion to hold mini-games before the match to enhance the pitchers' game sense, but it was ultimately canceled.
With Ponce as the starting pitcher, Hanwha set up the batting order with left fielder Kim Tae-yeon, designated hitter Moon Hyun-bin, center fielder Plourial, third baseman Noh Si-hwan, first baseman Chae Eun-sung, second baseman Ahn Chi-hong, right fielder Lim Jong-chan, catcher Choi Jae-hoon, and shortstop Shim Woo-jun.
The home team NC composed their starting lineup with second baseman Park Min-woo, shortstop Kim Joo-won, designated hitter Son Ah-seop, first baseman Davidson, right fielder Park Gun-woo, left fielder Kwon Hee-dong, third baseman Seo Ho-cheol, catcher Park Se-hyuk, and center fielder Kim Sung-wook. The starting pitcher was Riley.
Hanwha failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities with one out and a runner on second base in the first inning and two outs and a runner on second base in the third inning. In the fifth inning, they created a big inning with concentrated hitting. Ahn Chi-hong and Lim Jong-chan's consecutive hits set up a no-out chance with runners on first and second base. Although the leading runner Ahn Chi-hong failed to steal third base, Choi Jae-hoon hit a single, putting two runners on base.
Instead of starting pitcher Riley, Son Joo-hwan took the mound. Shim Woo-jun drew a walk, loading the bases, and Kim Tae-yeon also walked, bringing home the runner from third, Lim Jong-chan. In the continued bases-loaded opportunity, Moon Hyun-bin hit a double, adding two more runs. Plourial recorded the fourth score with a sacrifice fly to center field. Noh Si-hwan added another point with a timely hit.
NC, who had not scored a run until the fifth inning, broke free from the humiliation of a team no-hitter with a solo home run over center field by pinch hitter Han Jae-hwan against Hanwha's second pitcher Jo Dong-wook after two outs in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Shin Yong-seok hit a two-run homer to narrow the gap to two runs, but the dramatic situation did not occur.
Hanwha's Moon Hyun-bin stood out among the team's hitters with two hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.
NC's starting pitcher Riley recorded four and a third innings, allowing five hits, striking out five, and yielding two earned runs. Following him were Son Joo-hwan, Im Jeong-ho, Jeon Sa-min, Kim Jae-yeol, and Kim Tae-hyun.
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