The NC Dinos caught 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 earned his 20th save.
Park Gun-woo hit the game-winning home run. Photo courtesy of NC Dinos
In the batting lineup, 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 hit in the top of the sixth inning. 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).안전놀이터
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.
McKinney pitched well against the NC bats, but he was not smiling. Photo by Kim Young-koo
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.
Lee Yong-chan made 20 saves for the second straight year. Photo courtesy of NC Dinos
NC brought up Lee Yong-chan in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out Lee Ju-hyung. He gave up a triple to Song Sung-moon, followed by an RBI single from Lim Byung-wook. However, they struck out Kim Hwi-jip and Lee Hyung-jong with swinging strikes to end the game.