'8-inning, 0-run' perfect performance with 78 pitches on the day of the 'superpower' contract renewal → KBO's first shutout saved for next time... Thrilling 1-0 victory over NC with '5 double-play hits humiliation' [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Doosan Bears, led by the outstanding performance of Wes Benjamin, concluded the midweek series against NC Dinos with a '2 wins, no losses' winning series.

On the 21st, Doosan secured a 1-0 victory over NC in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

With this win, Doosan improved to 22 wins, 1 tie, and 22 losses, finally reaching a .500 winning percentage. The team is now on a four-game winning streak. In contrast, NC fell into a three-game losing streak, finishing with 18 wins, 1 tie, and 25 losses.

Benjamin, who had just finalized an extension contract with Doosan, delivered an 8-inning (78 pitches), 1-walk, 1-hit-by-pitch, 1-strikeout, scoreless performance to earn his first win of the season. Benjamin, who joined the KT Wiz in 2022 and made his KBO debut, has yet to record a shutout or even a complete-game victory in the KBO League. Unfortunately, after pitching through 8 innings, he handed the mound over, postponing his first shutout to a future game. Lee Young-ha then took the mound in the 9th inning and successfully preserved the one-run lead. Doosan recorded a total of 9 hits, with Park Chan-ho contributing 3 hits, while Son Ah-seop and Kang Seung-ho each delivered multi-hit performances.

On the other hand, Natsuki Toda of NC pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, striking out 5, and giving up 1 unearned run, but received no offensive support from his team, resulting in a loss. This marked his fifth loss (and second win) of the season. Kim Young-gyu (⅓ inning), Lim Ji-min (1 inning), and Ryu Jin-wook (1 inning) followed in relief, each pitching scoreless innings. The NC offense managed only 6 scattered hits.

Doosan's starting lineup for the day was: Jung Soobin (center field), Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Son Ah-seop (designated hitter), Cameron (right field), Yang Eui-ji (catcher), Kim Min-seok (left field), Kang Seung-ho (first base), Oh Myung-jin (second base), and Park Ji-hoon (third base). Wes Benjamin was the starting pitcher.

In response, NC set their lineup as follows: Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Kwon Hee-dong (left field), Park Min-woo (second base), Davison (first base), Lee Woo-seong (designated hitter), Park Geon-woo (right field), Han Seok-hyun (center field), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), and Kim Han-byul (third base). Natsuki Toda, an Asia quota player, was the starting pitcher.

Doosan scored the first run in the bottom of the 1st inning. With one out, Park Chan-ho reached base with a double that landed just inside the left-field line. During Son Ah-seop's at-bat, Toda committed a throwing error while attempting to hold a runner at second base, allowing Park Chan-ho to advance to third. Son Ah-seop then hit a two-run single to center field, scoring Park Chan-ho for the go-ahead run.

In the end, that single run proved extremely valuable for Doosan.

NC's momentum was repeatedly disrupted by multiple double plays. In the 2nd inning with no outs and a runner on first, Park Geon-woo hit into a double play. In the 3rd inning with no outs and a runner on first, Kim Han-byul hit into a double play. In the 4th inning with one out and a runner on first, Lee Woo-seong hit into a double play. In the 5th inning with one out and a runner on first, Kim Hyung-jun hit into a double play. In the 9th inning with one out and a runner on first, Park Min-woo hit into a ground ball double play to the shortstop, sealing the disappointment. NC hit five double plays in a single game.

With Doosan successfully inducing multiple double plays, Benjamin on the mound gained even more momentum. NC seized a golden opportunity in the 8th inning. Benjamin remained on the mound. Leadoff hitter Park Geon-woo hit a single to left-center field and was replaced by pinch-runner Choi Jeong-won. A sacrifice bunt by Han Seok-hyun then created a one-out, runner-on-second situation. However, Kim Hyung-jun flew out to left field, and Do Tae-hoon grounded out to the shortstop, ending the threat. Ultimately, Doosan emerged victorious.

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*This content was translated by AI.