Pedi 155km KKKKKKKKKKKKK ’17 wins’ + Park Gun-woo final two runs + Lee Yong-chan 20SV…NC stops Kiwoom’s 5-game winning streak → reclaims 4th place
The NC Dinos swept the Kiwoom Heroes.
NC, coached by Kang Myung-ho, won the 13th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against Kiwoom 2-1 on Friday at NC Park in Changwon. With 58 wins, 51 losses, and two draws, NC overtook the KIA Tigers (56 wins, 50 losses, and two draws), who did not play on the day due to a rainout.
Starting pitcher Eric Peddie pitched seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball, striking out 11 and walking none to improve to 17-6 on the season after a poor performance in his last outing (seven runs in three innings against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju on Aug. 31). Kim Young-gyu (1 inning) and Lee Yong-chan (1 inning) also did not allow a run. For the fifth time in his career and for the second consecutive year, Lee recorded 20 saves.
At the plate, Park Gun-woo shined. After failing to get a single hit off Kiwoom starter Ian McKinney until the fifth inning, NC got a big boost from Park’s game-winning double with one out in the sixth. He had two hits and beat Kiwoom, who had five hits.
Kiwoom’s starter, McKinney, pitched six innings of two-run ball with three strikeouts and three walks, but was saddled with a solo home run in the sixth. The offense wasn’t smiling, either, as they were stymied by Peddy’s perfect game. They rallied with a run in the ninth, but couldn’t pull off the upset. The five-game winning streak fell short.
NC’s lineup was Son Asub (designated hitter), Park Min-woo (second base), Park Gun-woo (right field), Jason Martin (left field), Kim Sung-wook (center field), Do Tae-hoon (first base), Seo Ho-cheol (center field), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), and Kim Ju-won (shortstop).
Kiwoom’s starting lineup was Ronnie Dawson (left fielder), Kim Hye-sung (second baseman), Lee Joo-hyung (designated hitter), Song Sung-moon (first baseman), Lim Byung-wook (center fielder), Kim Hui-jip (shortstop), Lee Hyung-jong (right fielder), Kim Tae-jin (third baseman), and Kim Xiang (catcher).
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning, when both teams exchanged pitches. Kiwoom had two hits, while NC was unable to muster a single hit against McKinney. Fifty minutes into the game, we entered the top of the fifth inning. The pitching duel continued.
NC had a chance in the bottom of the fifth. Leadoff hitter Kim Sung-wook singled and Do Tae-hoon followed with a foul fly to right field, but Seo Ho-cheol drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Kim Hyung-joon singled to left field and Kim Joo-won grounded out to end the inning.
With the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Kim Hye-sung drew a walk. She then stole second base on a wild pitch, but was unable to score due to a bad at-bat.
Then NC took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter Son As-seob led off with a walk. Park Min-woo walked, but Park Gun-woo came to the rescue. He hit a two-run home run off McKinney. It was NC’s first hit of the game. NC had runners on first and second in the seventh inning, but failed to capitalize.
In the eighth inning, Kim Young-gyu came to the plate. He gave up a leadoff single to Park Chan-hyuk, but struck out Kim Xiang and Dawson in succession, and got Kim Hye-sung to ground out. Kiwoom continued to chase, but was unable to score. 메이저놀이터
NC loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. He walked Lee Ju-hyung. He gave up a triple to Song Sung-moon, followed by an RBI single from Lim Byung-wook. However, Kim Hui-jip walked and Lee Hyung-jong struck out swinging to end the game.