The Hanwha Eagles decorated their opening game with a win for the first time in five years, powered by a tremendous late surge.

The Hanwha Eagles, led by manager Kim Kyeong-mun, won the opening game against KT Wiz 4-3 on the 22nd at Suwon KT Wiz Park, experiencing their first opening game victory in five years since 2020.

In the opening game, Hanwha lined up a starting lineup featuring Kim Tae-yeon (left fielder), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Estevan Florial (center fielder), No Si-hwan (third baseman), Chae Eun-sung (first baseman), Ahn Chi-hong (second baseman), Lim Jong-chan (right fielder), Choi Jae-hoon (catcher), and Shim Woo-jun (shortstop).

It was a game that showcased the late power of the batting lineup. In the top of the seventh inning, trailing 1-2, lead-off hitter Chae Eun-sung hit a single to center, and a stolen base by substitute Lee Won-seok set up a scoring opportunity. Pinch hitter Hwang Young-mook hit a one-RBI double to tie the game, and Shim Woo-jun, facing his former team, hit a one-RBI double to turn the game around. In the next at-bat, No Si-hwan added a solo home run in the top of the eighth to seal the victory.

Hanwha starter KODI Ponce made his debut, pitching five innings with seven hits allowed, one walk, four strikeouts, and two earned runs on 87 pitches. Following him were Park Sang-won (one inning, no runs), Kim Seo-hyun (one inning, no runs), Han Seung-hyuk (one inning, no runs), and Joo Hyun-sang (one inning, one run), with Park Sang-won recording the season's first win and Joo Hyun-sang earning his first save.

Closer Joo Hyun-sang gave up a solo home run to lead-off hitter Kim Sang-su in the bottom of the ninth with a 4-2 lead, and although he allowed a hit to Kang Baek-ho, he struck out Mel Rojas Jr. and benefited from a failed stolen base attempt by first base substitute Ahn Chi-young.

After the game, Hanwha manager Kim Kyeong-mun noted, "I want to say that the players all fought well without mistakes and brought home the victory, even though they must have been nervous for the regular season opener. It was a tight atmosphere, and in the seventh inning, Hwang Young-mook's equalizing hit and Shim Woo-jun’s go-ahead double put us in the lead, while No Si-hwan’s solo home run in the eighth seized the momentum."

Hanwha aims for a sweep in the opening series on the 23rd, starting with Ryan Weiss. KT has announced William Cuevas.

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