Cody Ponce Dominates As Hanwha Eagles Win Again

In a thrilling display of pitching prowess, Cody Ponce led the Hanwha Eagles to a 2-0 victory over the SSG Landers on April 15, 2025, at Incheon SSG Landers Field. The game showcased Ponce's dominance on the mound, as he struck out an impressive 12 batters while allowing just one hit over seven innings, further solidifying his status as Hanwha's ace.

Ponce's fastball reached a maximum speed of 155 km/h, and his performance was nothing short of spectacular. With this win, he improved his season record to 3-1 and lowered his ERA from 3.60 to 2.90. The game was crucial for Hanwha, marking their second consecutive win and bringing their season record to 9 wins and 11 losses, while SSG fell to 9 wins and 7 losses.

The match began with a tense atmosphere as both teams' starting pitchers, Ponce and SSG's Drew Anderson, faced off in what was expected to be a closely contested duel. Hanwha struck first in the top of the first inning when Moon Hyun-bin hit a ground ball that allowed Lee Jin-young to score, giving the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.

Despite a promising start for SSG, who had runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Ponce quickly regained his composure, striking out Jung Jun-jae and inducing a double play from Choi Ji-hoon to escape the jam without allowing a run.

As the game progressed, Ponce continued to dominate the SSG lineup. In the second inning, he struck out Oh Tae-gon and forced Ko Myung-joon into a ground ball before fanning Hyun Won-hoe, showcasing his ability to mix pitches effectively.

By the time the third inning rolled around, Ponce was in a rhythm, striking out lead-off batter Park Ji-hwan and inducing a fly ball from Choi Ji-hoon. After allowing a walk to Jung Jun-jae, Ponce struck out Park Sung-han to end the inning, marking his third strikeout of the frame.

The fourth inning saw Ponce's dominance reach new heights as he struck out all three batters he faced, including Lee Ji-young, to maintain the shutout. The fifth inning was no different, as he added three more strikeouts to his tally, fanning Ko Myung-joon, Hyun Won-hoe, and Park Ji-hwan.

As the game entered the seventh inning, Ponce was still going strong. He struck out Han Yu-seom for his 11th strikeout and then capped off his stellar performance by getting Oh Tae-gon to swing and miss for his 12th strikeout of the night. With this performance, he surpassed his previous season-high of 10 strikeouts from a game earlier in the month against the Lotte Giants.

Hanwha added an insurance run in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 2-0. Hwang Young-muk led off with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by SSG's first baseman, Kim Geon-woo. After Choi Jae-hoon successfully stole second base, Hwang scored on a passed ball by Park Ji-hwan, giving Hanwha the cushion they needed.

Despite the late-game efforts from SSG, who managed only one hit after the first inning, Ponce's performance was simply too much to overcome. He exited the game after seven innings, leaving the mound to a standing ovation from the Hanwha fans. Kim Seo-hyun took over in the ninth inning, closing out the game with a perfect inning to secure his fourth save of the season.

On the other side of the diamond, Drew Anderson pitched admirably for SSG, striking out nine batters, all swinging, but ultimately suffered his second loss of the season. He allowed three hits and two runs, with the lone run he surrendered in the first inning proving to be the difference in the game.

Ponce reflected on his performance after the game, expressing satisfaction with the victory and acknowledging some regret over the three walks he issued. “I’m happy the team won. The two walks are a bit disappointing, but Choi Jae-hoon called a great game, which helped me perform better,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ponce has set his sights on surpassing Ryu Hyun-jin's KBO record of 17 strikeouts in a single game. “That’s my goal,” he stated. “Ever since I learned about Ryu’s record, I’ve been talking about it with him. He just smiles and says, ‘Good luck.’”

The night was not without controversy, as Hanwha's manager Lee Soong-yong briefly protested a call regarding Ponce's pitching motion in the first inning, but the situation was resolved without further incident. Ponce commented on the chilly conditions that led to the discussion, noting that it did not affect his performance.

With this victory, Hanwha continues to build momentum as they look to climb the KBO standings. As for Ponce, he has firmly established himself as a key player for the Eagles, and fans will be eager to see if he can indeed chase down Ryu’s strikeout record in the coming games.