Hanwha Stages a Remarkable Comeback in Korean Series
Hanwha managed to break their three-game losing streak with an impressive late-game performance, scoring six runs in the eighth inning to secure their first victory in the 2025 Korean Series. The third game of the series took place at Daejeon Hanwha Life Park on the 29th, where Hanwha triumphed with a thrilling 7-3 comeback win. This victory was powered by starting pitcher Cody Ponce’s strong performance, Shim Woo-jun’s go-ahead hit in the eighth inning, and Kim Seo-hyun’s crucial role in preserving the lead despite facing several challenges. With this win, Hanwha improved their series record to 1-2.
Shim Woo-jun, who had struggled with failed steal attempts and poor batting form earlier in the series, delivered the go-ahead and game-winning hit. Closer Kim Seo-hyun, despite allowing one unearned run due to a wild pitch, became the winning pitcher by securing five outs, leading Hanwha to their first Korean Series victory.
Early Game Tension
The early stages of the game featured a tight battle between the starting pitchers. In the top of the first inning, Hanwha’s Cody Ponce struggled with control, making a difficult start. He began with three balls to leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki and, after a full-count battle, induced a groundout to the first baseman. However, the second batter, Shin Min-jae, drew a walk after an eight-pitch battle, putting runners on first with one out. Ponce then engaged in another full-count duel with the third batter, Austin. He managed to induce a grounder in front of the pitcher, resulting in a double play to escape the inning.
In the bottom of the first, LG’s starter Son Ju-young, making his debut in the Korean Series and at Daejeon New Ballpark, struck out Hanwha’s leadoff hitter Son Ah-seop with a swing-and-miss. He then retired Rivera with a groundout to first base. However, Hanwha’s third batter, Moon Hyun-bin, singled up the middle off Son Ju-young, recording the game’s first hit. Son Ju-young then got Noh Si-hwan to ground out to third base.
Hanwha Takes the Lead
Hanwha took the lead in the bottom of the second. With one out and a runner on first, Ha Joo-seok singled to left field, creating a one-out, first-and-third situation. Choi Jae-hoon followed with a single to left field off Son Ju-young. LG’s left fielder Kim Hyun-soo misplayed the ball, allowing runner Lee Jin-young, who had stopped at third, to score the go-ahead run.
With the score 1-0 and a one-out, first-and-third situation, LG’s shortstop Oh Ji-hwan showcased his brilliance. When Lee Do-yoon hit a fly ball just past the infield, Oh Ji-hwan let it drop and threw to second base for a forceout, then initiated a rundown to catch the runner from first. Hanwha’s dugout protested the lack of an infield fly rule, but since the ball had fallen outside the infield, the call stood, and LG avoided additional damage.
LG Strikes Back
LG countered immediately in the top of the third. Leadoff hitter Koo Bon-hyuk reached on an infield single to shortstop. Ponce struck out Park Hae-min and got Hong Chang-ki to fly out to center field. With two outs and a runner on first, Shin Min-jae hit a direct shot up the middle off Ponce’s first-pitch fastball. Moon Hyun-bin attempted a diving catch in left field but couldn’t secure it, and the ball rolled toward the fence, allowing Koo Bon-hyuk to score, tying the game 1-1.
Shin Min-jae advanced to third, and Noh Si-hwan attempted to tag him out. However, Shin Min-jae failed to touch third base, and Noh Si-hwan’s tag was also incomplete. The initial call was safe, but a video review showed Noh Si-hwan’s tag was slightly faster, resulting in the third out. Son Ju-young retired Son Ah-seop, Rivera, and Moon Hyun-bin in order in the bottom of the third.
LG Takes the Lead
LG took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out and no runners on, Kim Hyun-soo drove a changeup from Ponce over the left-center field fence for a solo home run, silencing the packed Daejeon New Ballpark. Son Ju-young, riding momentum, struck out Noh Si-hwan and Lee Jin-young in the bottom of the fourth, maintaining his strong outing.
In the top of the fifth, LG’s leadoff hitter Park Dong-won hit a sharp line drive to left field, but Hanwha’s third baseman Noh Si-hwan made a diving catch for an out. Ponce struck out Koo Bon-hyuk and got Park Hae-min to fly out to foul territory, recording a three-up, three-down inning.
Hanwha Struggles Offensively
In the bottom of the fifth, Hanwha’s leadoff hitter Ha Joo-seok drew a walk. However, Choi Jae-hoon failed to execute a sacrifice bunt, leaving runners on first with one out. Lee Do-yoon then hit a grounder to second base. Shin Min-jae attempted to tag Ha Joo-seok but missed, allowing Ha Joo-seok to reach second safely. Son Ah-seop, who had already struck out three times against Son Ju-young, stepped into the batter’s box. With a chance to tie, Son Ah-seop struck out swinging for the fourth time, falling victim to Son Ju-young’s pitching.
Hanwha Turns the Tide
In the top of the eighth, Hanwha brought in Han Seung-hyuk, who allowed a leadoff flyout to left field by Park Hae-min. LG’s Hong Chang-ki then doubled off the right-center field wall, putting runners on second with one out. Hanwha replaced Han Seung-hyuk with Kim Beom-su. Shin Min-jae hit a slow grounder that bounced over the pitcher, and the second baseman fielded it for an infield single, loading the bases with one out.
Facing a critical situation, Hanwha turned to Kim Seo-hyun. The first batter, Austin, who had no hits in the series, swung at a 152 km/h fastball for a foul, then missed a 153 km/h fastball. After another foul, the count became 0-2. However, the next pitch sailed high over Austin’s head for a wild pitch, allowing the runner on third to score, giving LG a 3-1 lead.
Kim Seo-hyun then got Austin to fly out to left field and Kim Hyun-soo to fly out to center field, ending the top of the eighth.
Final Push for Victory
In the bottom of the eighth, LG brought in left-hander Song Seung-gi. Hanwha replaced Lee Do-yoon with pinch hitter Kim Tae-yeon, who hit a fly ball deep over the shortstop’s head. Three LG fielders converged but couldn’t make the catch, allowing Kim Tae-yeon to reach second base. Son Ah-seop, who had struck out three times, followed with a single to right field, putting runners on first and third with no outs. However, Rivera struck out swinging, leaving runners on first and third with one out.
With Moon Hyun-bin at the plate, LG replaced Song Seung-gi with closer Yoo Young-chan. With a 2-2 count, Moon Hyun-bin dribbled a single up the middle. Kim Hyun-soo dove for the ball in left field but couldn’t make the catch, allowing Kim Tae-yeon to score, cutting LG’s lead to 3-2.
Noh Si-hwan struck out swinging for the second out, but Chae Eun-seong drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing in a run to tie the game 3-3. Hanwha then replaced Lee Won-seok with pinch hitter Hwang Young-mok. Hwang Young-mok worked the count to 3-1 and drew a walk, forcing in the go-ahead run to make it 4-3.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Shim Woo-jun, struggling with his bat, stepped in. With a 1-1 count, he pulled a ball from Yoo Young-chan that deflected off the third baseman and rolled to left field, allowing two runners to score, giving Hanwha a 6-3 lead.
LG replaced Yoo Young-chan with Kim Young-woo. Choi Jae-hoon followed with a single to right field, plating two more runs, extending Hanwha’s lead to 7-3.
Kim Seo-hyun returned to the mound in the top of the ninth with a four-run lead. LG’s leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung singled to right field with a 0-2 count, putting a runner on first with no outs. Kim Seo-hyun then struck out Oh Ji-hwan on a full count and hit Park Dong-won with a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out.
LG brought in pinch hitter Moon Sung-joo to replace Koo Bon-hyuk. With a 1-0 count, Moon Sung-joo hit a grounder to second base. The Hanwha infield turned a 4-6-3 double play, ending the game and securing the thrilling 7-3 comeback victory. Hanwha earned their first Korean Series win in Daejeon in 26 years. The game’s MVP was Shim Woo-jun, who hit the go-ahead, two-run, game-winning hit in the eighth inning.
Kim Seo-hyun, who had struggled with home runs in recent appearances, remained seated in the dugout long after the game, tearfully bowing to the home fans who chanted his name.
