'Kim Ju-won's walk-off hit, Taylor's victory' NC Dinos secure 10-5 rout after '1 draw, 1 loss'... SSG shares 4th place with Samsung [Incheon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

NC Dinos concluded their long three-game series with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss.

On the 7th, NC defeated the SSG Landers 10-5 in a visiting game against the SSG Landers at the SSG Landers Field in Incheon as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.

With a record of 15 wins, 17 losses, and 1 draw, NC maintained its 6th-place position, trailing the 5th-place KIA Tigers by 0.5 games. Meanwhile, SSG, with 18 wins, 14 losses, and 1 draw, tied for 4th place alongside the day's victors, the Samsung Lions.

NC lined up its batting order with Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Han Seok-hyun (center fielder), Park Min-woo (designated hitter), Matt Davidson (first baseman), Park Geon-woo (right fielder), Lee Woo-seong (left fielder), Kim Han-byul (second baseman), Do Tae-hoon (third baseman), and Ahn Jung-yeol (catcher). Curtis Taylor was the starting pitcher.

SSG set its starting lineup with Park Sung-han (shortstop), Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Guillermo Heredia (left fielder), Kim Jae-hwan (designated hitter), Choi Jun-woo (right fielder), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Lee Ji-young (catcher), and Hongdae-in (third baseman). Shota Takeda started on the mound for SSG.

Choi Jeong, who hit a home run the previous day but was substituted due to discomfort in his lower back during the game, rested, with Choi Ji-hoon taking his spot. Choi Ji-hoon started at the third spot in the batting order for the first time in 383 days since the April 19 game against the LG Twins. Kim Jae-hwan, who returned via the minor league, also took the fifth spot in the lineup.

A variable emerged early in the game. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Davidson, who had hit a single, showed discomfort in his left inner thigh and was substituted for Choi Jeong for player protection.

Initially, the momentum favored SSG. In the top of the 2nd inning, Choi Jun-woo, Oh Tae-gon, and Lee Ji-young hit three consecutive singles, scoring one run, and added another when Hongdae-in grounded out to the shortstop. In the 3rd inning, Jung Jun-jae, the hero of the previous day's walk-off hit, hit a double, and Kim Jae-hwan, who returned that day, drove in a run with a hit to center field.

NC also mounted a powerful offensive surge. Substituted-in Choi Jeong hit a double as the leadoff batter in the top of the 4th inning. Following Kim Han-byul's walk and Do Tae-hoon's triple, along with hits from Kim Ju-won and Park Min-woo, NC scored five runs in a big inning.

In the 5th inning, Park Geon-woo and Kim Han-byul drew walks off SSG starter Takeda, reaching base. SSG brought in Park Si-hoo, but it was not enough to suppress NC's offense. Do Tae-hoon reached base on a hit-by-pitch, and Kim Hyung-jun hit a two-run RBI single.

On the mound, Taylor's pitching shone. After allowing consecutive runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings, Taylor delivered stable pitching. He retired the side in order in the 4th and 5th innings, struck out Kim Jae-hwan in the 6th, allowed two walks, and then handed the ball to Lee Jun-hyeok with two outs and runners on first and second. Lee Jun-hyeok surrendered one run via a hit-by-pitch and an infield hit, increasing the earned run total to four, but no further runs were allowed.

In the top of the 8th inning, Park Geon-woo smashed Han Du-sol's slider with two outs and a runner on second, hitting a two-run home run. It was his eighth of the season.

Bae Jae-hwan (1 1/3 innings), Son Ju-hwan (1 inning), and Ha Jun-young (1 inning) then closed out the remaining innings to finish the game. Taylor, who pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, four walks/strikeouts, recorded six strikeouts, and gave up four runs, earned his third win of the season (with two losses). Bae Jae-hwan recorded his eighth hold of the season (with two wins).

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*This content was translated by AI.