'Davidson Farewell Game' Big Inning: NC Stages Dramatic Comeback from 0-4 to 11-4 Against Kiwoom, Who Suffer 10th Consecutive Defeat [Changwon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

'NC Dinos pushed Kiwoom Heroes into a 10-game losing streak. The match took on added significance as it was the final farewell game for 'foreign power hitter' Matt Davidson (35), who has played for NC since the 2024 season, in front of home fans.

'On the 26th, NC defeated Kiwoom 11-4 in a home game at Changwon NC Park as part of the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.' Trailing 0-4, NC scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning alone to take control of the game.

'With this victory, NC secured back-to-back wins following their win against Lotte Giants the previous day (25th). Meanwhile, Kiwoom fell into a deep slump with 10 consecutive losses.

'NC's starting lineup for the day was: Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Lee Woo-seong (left fielder), Park Min-woo (second baseman), Davidson (first baseman), Park Geon-woo (designated hitter), Kwon Hee-dong (right fielder), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), and Oh Jang-han (center fielder). Davidson, who is playing his final game before leaving the Korean stage, started at the fourth spot in the lineup as usual, drawing loud cheers from Changwon fans. Kim Tae-kyung was the starting pitcher.

'Kiwoom countered with the following lineup: Seo Geon-chang (designated hitter), Park Chan-hyuk (right fielder), Choo Jae-hyun (center fielder), Hyu-ra (left fielder), Kim Woong-bin (first baseman), Yeo Dong-wook (third baseman), Choi Ju-hwan (second baseman), Kim Dong-heon (catcher), and Kwon Hyuk-bin (shortstop). Bae Dong-hyun started on the mound for Kiwoom.

'Kiwoom took the early lead. In the top of the third inning, after Choi Ju-hwan drew a walk, Kim Dong-heon hit a bunt single, and Kwon Hyuk-bin struck out, Seo Geon-chang followed with a two-run, go-ahead triple. Park Chan-hyuk then grounded out to the second baseman, but Choo Jae-hyun added a one-run, go-ahead single, extending the lead to 3-0.

'Kiwoom extended their lead further in the top of the fourth. After Kim Woong-bin's bunt single and Yeo Dong-wook's walk, Kim Dong-heon delivered a one-run, go-ahead single to left field, pushing the score to 4-0.

'However, NC's counterattack was no easy feat. In the bottom of the fourth, after Kim Joo-won's leadoff hit, Lee Woo-seong's consecutive hits, and a stolen base, Park Min-woo hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score one run. Davidson then followed with a one-run, go-ahead double to left-center, narrowing the gap to 2-4.

'Ultimately, NC capped off the bottom of the sixth with a big inning to turn the game around. After Kim Joo-won reached on a first baseman's error, Lee Woo-seong hit a fly ball, Park Min-woo drew a walk, and Davidson was hit by a pitch, NC loaded the bases. When Park Geon-woo hit a ground ball to the third baseman, video review determined the runner from second was called out while advancing to third, but the runner from third scored, cutting the deficit to 3-4.

'NC's offense did not stop there. With the bases loaded again after Kwon Hee-dong drew a walk, Kim Hwi-jip drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 4-4. In the continued bases-loaded situation, Kim Hyung-jun, stepping up to the plate against reliever Kim Sung-jin, hit a three-run, go-ahead triple to center field, instantly taking a 7-4 lead. Following this, Cheon Jae-hwan hit a fielder's choice infield single, allowing Kim Hyung-jun to score, as NC scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth alone to extend their lead to 8-4.

'NC, having turned the game around, used their reliable bullpen, including Jeon Sa-min and Kim Jin-ho, to hold the lead until the end and secure the victory. In the bottom of the eighth, Park Min-woo drew a bases-loaded walk, and Davidson added a two-run, go-ahead single, pushing the score to 11-4 and extending the lead by seven runs.

'NC's starter Kim Tae-kyung was pulled early after pitching three innings, allowing four hits, two walks, three strikeouts, and four earned runs. However, relievers Lee Jun-hyuk, Kim Tae-hoon, Lim Ji-min, Jeon Sa-min, Kim Jin-ho, and Choi Woo-seok all pitched scoreless innings. Davidson recorded two hits, one hit-by-pitch, and three RBIs in four at-bats. Kim Joo-won went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Kim Hyung-jun went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, leading the offense.

'After the game, Changwon fans gave Davidson, who fought until the end to lay the foundation for victory, an outpouring of standing ovations and cheers, bidding him a beautiful farewell alongside the team's dramatic comeback win.

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*This content was translated by AI.