'13walk' NC-'21st base on balls' SSG, 262-minute bloodied battle ends in a hollow draw... Second all-time Children's Day match with no winner [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers' baseball began in the 8th inning. After trailing heavily, the team mounted a stubborn comeback and secured a dramatic walk-off victory in extra innings, seemingly leaving special memories for the 'Sseuk-rin' fans who filled the stadium. However, the final result was ultimately a draw that left no one smiling.

On the 5th, SSG faced NC Dinos in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game at Incheon SSG Landers Field. Trailing 2-5, SSG scored in the 8th and 9th innings to force extra innings but could not decide the outcome even after 11 innings, ending in a 7-7 tie.

SSG, currently on a three-game losing streak, maintained its third-place position with a record of 17 wins, 13 losses, and 1 tie. The gap to second-place LG Twins widened to 2.5 games. Meanwhile, NC finished with 14 wins, 16 losses, and 1 tie, dropping one spot to sixth place.

SSG lined up with Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Jeong (third baseman), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Han Yu-seom (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Choi Jun-woo (right fielder), and Cho Hyung-woo (catcher). Starting pitcher was Choi Min-jun.

NC set its lineup with Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Han Seok-hyun (left fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Matt Davidson (first baseman), Park Geon-woo (right fielder), Lee Woo-seong (designated hitter), Ahn Joong-yeol (catcher), Kim Han-byul (third baseman), and Choi Jeong-won (center fielder). Shin Young-woo made the starting appearance.

Shin Young-woo, registered for the first division today, struggled with control but showcased his strikeout ability during critical moments. With two outs and bases loaded in the first inning, he struck out Choi Ji-hoon. In the second inning, he allowed one run via a sacrifice fly to Jung Jun-jae but then recorded a swinging strikeout against Heredia, extinguishing a potential big-scoring threat. He retired the side in order in the third but entered the fourth facing a bases-loaded situation again due to a walk, an infield error, and another walk, eventually handing the ball to Jeon Sa-min. Jung Jun-jae drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but no additional runs were scored.

SSG's starting pitcher Choi Min-jun faced NC batters with bold pitching. After allowing one run on two hits and one walk in the second inning, he faced trouble in the third with two hits and two walks but managed to limit the damage to just one run.

The fifth inning was painful. With two outs, Park Sung-han and Jung Jun-jae collided while attempting to field Davidson's ground ball to shortstop, resulting in a throwing error. Park Geon-woo then hit a two-run home run, giving NC a 4-2 lead. This was Park Geon-woo's seventh home run of the season.

NC added another run in the sixth. After consecutive hits by Kim Han-byul and Choi Jeong-won with one out, Kim Ju-won hit a sacrifice fly to left field, extending the lead to 5-2.

NC's bullpen, activated early, operated steadily. Starting with Jeon Sa-min in the fourth inning, Kim Young-gyu and Kim Jin-ho each pitched a clean inning.

Lim Jeong-ho, who entered in the bottom of the 7th, held two outs well but began to waver after allowing consecutive hits to Choi Ji-hoon and Oh Tae-gon. NC brought in Lim Ji-min and induced a ground ball to third base from substitute Ryu Hyo-seung to escape the danger.

The biggest crisis of the game arrived in the bottom of the 8th. Lim Ji-min, who had held the line well in the seventh, suddenly faltered. After allowing an infield hit to left by Cho Hyung-woo, a single to right by Park Sung-han, and a walk to Jung Jun-jae, the bases were loaded. Lim struck out Choi Jeong with a swinging strikeout but then allowed a large double to left-center by Heredia, giving up two runs. Additionally, center fielder Choi Jeong-won collided with the fence, hit his head on the ground, and was carried off on a stretcher.

Even in a chaotic situation, Lim Jeong-han struck out Han Yu-seom with a swinging strikeout, walked Choi Ji-hoon, and handed the ball to Ryu Jin-wook. The quickly inserted closer struck out Oh Tae-gon with a looking strikeout, preserving the lead.

Ryu Jin-wook, who appeared again in the ninth, started by striking out substitute An Sang-hyun but allowed a hit to Cho Hyung-woo and a stolen base to substitute Chae Hyun-woo. After retiring Park Sung-han with a ground ball to first base, Ryu could not overcome the final hurdle. He allowed a one-run tying triple to Jung Jun-jae and a walk to Choi Jeong before being replaced. With two outs and runners on first and third, Lee Jun-hyeok came to the mound and struck out Heredia, sending the game into extra innings.

The momentum now seemed to favor SSG. Having trailed throughout, SSG had saved its reliable relievers except for Jo Byeong-hyun. In the top of the 10th, Lee Run appeared, and Doo Tae-hoon, who had entered as a defensive replacement for Davidson in the bottom of the eighth, stepped up to the plate.

However, the outcome could not be predicted prematurely. Doo Tae-hoon walked. Cheon Jae-hwan's bunt flew high and was caught by the catcher, but Lee Woo-seong followed with a single to left field, keeping the opportunity alive. After a strikeout by Kim Jeong-ho put two outs on the board, Kim Han-byul came to the plate. With a 2-2 count, he powerfully drove a 148 km/h outside fastball, sending the ball to left-center. Both leading runners sprinted home, reclaiming a 7-5 two-run lead.

It was not easy until the end. Lee Jun-hyeok struck out Han Yu-seom but allowed a hit to Choi Ji-hoon. A throwing error by left fielder Ko Jun-hwi allowed the runner to reach third. Oh Tae-gon's foul ball dropped in front of right field, narrowing the gap to 7-6. Lee Ji-young walked, and Chae Hyun-woo reached on a single to right, setting up the fifth bases-loaded situation of the day. Even after batting leader Park Sung-han struck out looking, Jung Jun-jae, who had driven in three runs that day, stepped up and hit a tying single to right. Choi Jeong struck out, but SSG escaped the defeat threat once again.

Noh Gyeong-eon entered in the top of the 11th. He struck out Han Seok-hyun and Park Min-woo consecutively, then struck out Doo Tae-hoon with a swinging strikeout, completing the final defensive inning with three strikeouts.

In the bottom of the 11th, the final offensive opportunity, Heredia grounded out to third base. Han Yu-seom then hit a single to center field, and substitute Hong Dae-in was inserted. Choi Ji-hoon walked, creating a walk-off chance. However, Oh Tae-gon's ground ball resulted in a double play to shortstop, second baseman, and first baseman, ending the grueling 4-hour and 22-minute battle in a draw. This was the second Children's Day match since the 15-15 tie between Hanwha Eagles and KIA Tigers in 2004 to end without a winner. It was the first time a game ended in a draw after extra innings on this day.

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*This content was translated by AI.