'Rebellion of .100 Hitters' Cheon Jae-hwan and Matt Davidson Hit Big; NC, Desperate for a Win in 10 Games (1-9), Smiles

*This content was translated by AI.

The team had endured its worst stretch in 10 games, posting just one win and nine losses. Once the hitters stepped up to fulfill their roles, the atmosphere completely changed. NC Dinos snapped their losing streak and smiled for the first time in a while.

On the 19th, NC secured a decisive 9-2 victory over SSG Landers in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held at Changwon NC Park.

After managing only one win in their last 10 games, including a three-game losing streak, NC improved their record to 8 wins and 10 losses with this victory, jumping to joint sixth place. The gap to fifth-place KIA Tigers remains just 1.5 games, providing a solid foundation to push forward.

During this period, the lineup ranked eighth with a batting average of 0.239, while the pitching staff had the worst ERA (5.59). With the offense unable to score and the pitching staff unable to hold the line, victories were out of reach.

Today was different. Starting pitcher Natsuki Toda, an Asia quota player, threw 101 pitches over 4 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit-by-pitch, and recording 5 strikeouts while surrendering just 1 run. Although the pitch count was high, he minimized runs allowed. Since the next day was a rest day, NC could manage its bullpen early.

The offense responded. In the second inning, consecutive hits by Park Geon-woo and Lee Woo-seong loaded the bases with no outs, and Matt Davidson scored on a ground ball to the shortstop to take the lead. Another run crossed the plate on a subsequent ground ball to the shortstop by Seo Ho-cheol.

In the fourth inning, Davidson reached base with a double with one out, and Seo Ho-cheol drew a walk after a grueling 10-pitch at-bat. Kim Hyung-jun's two-run single extended the lead by one run. Cheon Jae-hwan then crushed a slider thrown by Jeon Young-jun, driving it over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, seizing control of the game. His first home run of the season came at the moment the team needed it most. Later, with two outs and runners on first and third, Park Geon-woo's RBI single added another run.

In the seventh inning, Davidson sealed the victory. With two outs and a runner on first, he hit a two-run home run over the center-field fence off a pitch from Jang Ji-hoon. This was his third home run of the season, his first in six games.

After Toda was relieved, Bae Jae-hwan, Lim Jimin, Kim Young-gyu, Jeon Sa-min, and Ryu Jin-wook entered the game in succession, each pitching one inning. Ryu Jin-wook was the only one to allow a run, but the large score difference rendered it inconsequential.

Most importantly, the performance of previously struggling hitters made the victory even more meaningful. Until this game, Davidson had a batting average of 0.190, and Cheon Jae-hwan 0.125, both enduring severe slumps.

Manager Lee Ho-jun smiled. According to the NC Dinos organization, after the game, Manager Lee said, "Although the team was in a losing streak and players may have felt pressure, I view it positively that they maintained focus from the start of the game and built momentum by scoring early." He added, "Especially with Cheon Jae-hwan's home run in the fourth inning and other multi-run plays, we were able to seize control. The offense's focus during that process was excellent."

He continued, "Toda held the game's momentum as the starter, and the relievers who followed fulfilled their roles. Overall, it was a well-balanced game on both offense and defense." He also stated, "Even in difficult circumstances, the players performed their roles until the end to produce results, which I highly appreciate. I also want to thank the fans who visited Changwon NC Park today and provided such strong support."

Davidson, who hit 82 home runs and drove in 216 runs over the past two seasons, establishing himself as an indispensable hitter for the team, has been in a severe slump this season. He said, "The team was going through a tough time, and today we found a breakthrough by scoring many runs and hitting home runs. I think this is meaningful." He added, "I believe this can be a turning point. I strive every day to deliver the best results, but when poor outcomes repeat, it becomes difficult. However, this is baseball, and I will not stop putting in effort in the areas I need to improve."

Cheon Jae-hwan said, "It is even more meaningful that we could end the team's losing streak rather than focusing on personal records. As the losing streak lengthened, all players felt a strong thirst for victory." He added, "I will focus on my role to help the team maintain good momentum. My goal is to make plays that contribute to the team's victory in any situation."

Most importantly, he did not forget to send a message to the fans who have endured emotional hardship for a long time. Davidson said, "I will continue to prepare steadily as I have always done. I will strive to repay the fans who have always supported us with good results." Cheon Jae-hwan added, "I was able to find strength thanks to the fans who have always supported me without change. Thank you for the great support today, Jin Sim-eu-ro (Auditor)."

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*This content was translated by AI.