Lee Ho-jun's heartfelt words: "Thank you, Davidson, for leaving → Thank you for giving your all until the end, we will always cheer for you"

*This content was translated by AI.

NC Dinos manager Lee Ho-jun expressed heartfelt gratitude and farewell to foreign hitter Matt Davidson (35), who played his final game. After the match, the manager said, "I am grateful for his professional attitude of giving his best until the very last moment for the team," offering a beautiful goodbye.

On the 26th, NC secured an 11-4 victory over Kiwoom in a home game at Changwon NC Park in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League.' Trailing 0-4 through the middle innings with a heavy defeat looming, NC unleashed a terrifying comeback, scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning alone to claim a comeback victory.

On this day, NC fell behind after allowing three runs in the top of the third and one more in the fourth. However, NC launched a counterattack starting in the bottom of the fourth. At the center of this was Davidson, playing his 'goodbye match.' After Park Min-woo's sacrifice fly to right field scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, Davidson stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run double that split the gap between left and center field, narrowing the deficit to 2-4, just two runs behind. It was a valuable swing that lit up his farewell game.

Ultimately, NC capped the bottom of the sixth with a big inning, completely turning the game around. Leadoff batter Kim Joo-won reached on an opponent's error, followed by a walk from Park Min-woo and a hit-by-pitch from Davidson, creating a bases-loaded opportunity. Then, when Park Geon-woo grounded to the third baseman, the runner from third scored, cutting the deficit to 3-4, just one run behind.

NC's offensive surge did not stop. With a bases-loaded situation extended by a walk from Kwon Hee-dong, Kim Hwi-jip calmly drew a bases-loaded walk, tying the game at 4-4.

In the next bases-loaded opportunity, Kim Hyung-jun stepped up as the savior. Facing reliever Kim Sung-jin, Kim Hyung-jun hit a three-run triple to deep center field, driving in all three runners and instantly flipping the score to 7-4. Following this, when Cheon Jae-hwan hit a fielder's choice infield single, Kim Hyung-jun scored at home plate. NC scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth alone, extending the lead to 8-4. In the bottom of the eighth, NC added three more runs, sealing the victory. Davidson added a two-run single, finishing the day with three RBIs.

After the game, manager Lee Ho-jun, in his victory remarks, said, "I believe the key to today's win was not missing the opportunity that came in the sixth inning and converting it into a big inning," expressing satisfaction. He further commented, "The flow was not easy from the early to middle stages of the game, but narrowing the score gap and keeping the contest tight ultimately created the turning point in the later innings."

The manager also praised the players' focus, stating, "Especially in the bottom of the sixth, the players showed great concentration at the plate and did not miss scoring opportunities. Continuing the momentum they seized until the end led to today's victory." He then added, "Thank you to the fans who gave us great support today as well. We will prepare well for tomorrow's game and strive to show a good performance."

After the game, fans at Changwon offered Davidson, who displayed fighting spirit until the end and laid the foundation for victory, an outpouring of standing ovations and cheers, marking a beautiful farewell alongside the team's dramatic comeback win.

Meanwhile, NC has announced left-handed pitcher Koo Chang-mo as the starting pitcher for the 27th game. Kiwoom will counter with right-handed pitcher Ha Young-min.

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*This content was translated by AI.