'2 wins, 8 losses': NC shrinks when facing Samsung, bowing its head in a disastrous game marked by 16 walks and lasting only 275 minutes without extra innings

*This content was translated by AI.

The game concluded at 11:06 p.m. without even reaching extra innings, lasting 4 hours and 35 minutes. It was a match that clearly demonstrated how numerous walks significantly extend game time. Amid such a flow, NC Dinos could not help but feel the sting of a painful comeback loss.

On the 30th, at Changwon NC Park, NC allowed 16 walks in a home game against Samsung Lions in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, suffering a 13-7 comeback defeat.

Although the lineup seemed poised to dominate early with explosive hitting, the team ultimately lost, widening the gap with the fifth-place contenders by three games to a record of 35 wins, 40 losses, and 1 tie.

Starting pitcher Curtis Taylor struggled with control from the outset. After recording two outs in the top of the first inning, he allowed consecutive hits to Koo Ja-wook and Choi Hyung-woo, surrendering the lead. He then gave up a double to Lewin Diaz and a two-run RBI single to Ryu Ji-hyuk.

Fortunately, the offense came through. In the bottom of the first, walks by Kim Ju-won and Park Min-woo, a hit by Lee Woo-seong, and a sacrifice fly by Park Geon-woo scored one run. Following a hit-by-pitch by Kim Hwi-jip, Cheon Jae-hwan delivered a three-run double, completing a 4-3 comeback.

Taylor, who issued a walk in the top of the second, compounded the trouble with a throwing error on Kim Ji-chan's ground ball, creating a bases-loaded, two-out crisis. He then allowed another run on Kim Sung-yoon's infield hit.

Still, he managed to get through the third inning. Although he allowed a hit to Choi Hyung-woo and a hit-by-pitch to Ryu Ji-hyuk, loading the bases with one out, he induced a double play from Jeon Byeong-woo and escaped the inning without conceding a run.

The NC lineup added to their lead in the third. Following consecutive hits by Park Geon-woo and Kim Hwi-jip, Cheon Jae-hwan drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch by the opponent scored one run, and another run was added on an infield ground ball by Ahn Jung-hyun. With Shin Jae-in's RBI single, the lead extended to 7-4.

Taylor finished the fourth inning well but began the fifth by walking Koo Ja-wook and then issuing another walk to Choi Hyung-woo. He allowed a single to Ryu Ji-hyuk on a left-field hit and surrendered another run.

From the sixth inning, the ball was passed to Kim Jin-ho, but a parade of walks began among the relievers. Kim Jin-ho started the inning by walking leadoff batter Kim Ji-chan, then walked Koo Ja-wook and allowed a right-field hit to Choi Hyung-woo before being replaced by Shin Young-woo. With one out and bases loaded, a fielder's choice by catcher Kim Hyung-jun allowed one run. Shin Young-woo also lost control and issued a walk. It was a huge relief that Kim Tae-hoon, who came on the mound next, retired Jeon Byeong-woo on a shortstop fly ball, preventing further runs.

However, the seventh inning ultimately saw the tying run allowed. Kim Tae-hoon walked Kim Do-hwan and hit Yang Woo-hyun with a pitch. Reliever Jeon Sa-min then surrendered a tying RBI single to Kim Sung-yoon with one out and runners on second and third. On a subsequent infield ground ball, the lead was lost as the score became 8-7. After issuing a walk to Choi Hyung-woo, Song Myeong-gi was brought in to face Lewin Diaz. A wild pitch occurred, and with two balls, an automatic intentional walk was elected. However, the inning could not be completed until Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a single to left field, allowing one more run.

The eighth inning was held scoreless. After shutting out the top of the ninth, the plan was to attempt a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, but once again, the team faltered due to walks. Ha Jun-young, after a 10-pitch battle, walked Kim Sung-yoon and allowed a hit to Koo Ja-wook. A wild pitch put runners on second and third with no outs, and Choi Hyung-woo was allowed a sacrifice fly with one RBI. Instead, reliever Choi Woo-seok walked Kim Hyun-jun and Kang Min-ho consecutively, allowing another run. He then surrendered a two-run RBI single to Yang Woo-hyun, and the deficit widened to 13-7, resulting in a painful defeat.

Eight pitchers took the mound and issued 16 walks. Not a single pitcher avoided walks or hit batters. Two wild pitches were also thrown, and the eight pitchers threw a total of 223 pitches.

Although they did not break the all-time record for most hit-by-pitches and walks in a single game (18), set by Hanwha against Samsung on April 14, today's pitching performance certainly warranted another review.

The game on the 1st is expected to be a difficult contest. NC will have Natsuki Toda on the mound, while Samsung will start ace Ariel Jurado. With a head-to-head record of 2 wins and 8 losses against Samsung, NC's chances of advancing to the postseason are

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*This content was translated by AI.