'Koo Chang-mo-Koo Chang-mo-Koo Chang-mo' NC alone secured all three wins against Kiwoom this season with an 'ERA of 0.95' → Hence the 'N-Goo-haeng' [Gocheok Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Hence the term 'N-Goo-haeng' (NC is happy thanks to Koo Chang-mo).'

'NC Dinos left-handed pitcher Koo Chang-mo (29) once again proved the name of an ace. He alone secured all three wins the team achieved against Kiwoom Heroes this season.

'NC defeated Kiwoom 4-2 in a game held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 10th, erasing the regret of a walk-off loss the previous day (9th). Kiwoom ended its winning streak at two games.

'The game highlighted Koo Chang-mo's crisis management skills. Although he allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four consecutive innings from the second to the fifth, he did not allow any runs. In particular, in the bottom of the third inning with two outs and runners on second and third, he struck out Hiura, who had a batting average of 0.727 (11 at-bats, 8 hits, 3 home runs) up to the previous day, after a tense 11-pitch battle with a looking strikeout.

'In the bottom of the sixth inning, after two outs, he allowed consecutive hits to Lee Ho-jun and Kim Woong-bin, putting runners on first and second. At that moment, his pitch count reached 90, the number mentioned by NC manager Lee Ho-jun before the game. After discussing with NC pitching coach Lee Yong-hoon, who visited the mound, Koo Chang-mo recorded a third-out grounder to third base on the first pitch against pinch-hitter Im Ji-yeol, completing his mission.

'Over six innings, he allowed six hits with no walks and recorded six strikeouts in a scoreless outing. He threw 91 pitches, mixing 44 fastballs clocked at a top speed of 145 km/h, 26 forkballs, and 21 sliders. He recorded his sixth quality start (six innings or more with three or fewer earned runs) in three consecutive games, securing his sixth win (two losses) of the season.

'Following his April 23 performance (six innings, one run allowed) and May 16 performance (seven innings, one run allowed), he has now won all three games against Kiwoom, with an ERA of 0.95 (19 innings, two earned runs). NC has recorded three wins (five losses) against Kiwoom this season, and Koo Chang-mo was the winning pitcher in all three victories.

'NC scored two runs in the top of the third inning thanks to an opponent's error and a wild pitch. With runners on first and second and one out, created by hits from Kim Ju-won and Park Min-woo, a wild pitch by Kiwoom starter Ha Young-min put runners on second and third. When Davidson hit a fly ball, an error by center fielder Im Byung-wook on the catch allowed NC to take the lead. With runners on first and third and one out, Park Geon-woo hit a sacrifice fly to right field, successfully adding another run. Park Geon-woo recorded two hits in the second and fifth innings, extending his hit streak to 16 consecutive games.

'In the top of the ninth inning with one out and runners on first and second, Cheon Jae-hwan, who had recently returned to the first team, came in as a pinch-hitter and hit a two-run triple to left-center field, extending the score to 4-0.

'Kiwoom scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kim Geon-hee hit a single to left field, followed by an error by left fielder Cheon Jae-hwan on the catch and a bases-loaded walk by Choi Ju-hwan. However, with the bases loaded and no outs, the incoming pitcher Bae Jae-hwan struck out Hiura, Im Byung-wook, and Lee Ho-jun in consecutive strikeouts. Ha Young-min allowed 10 hits and eight strikeouts over 5⅔ innings, giving up two runs (one earned), suffering his fourth loss (two wins) of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.