*This content was translated by AI.
It was a dizzying situation where the game result did not matter. NC Dinos right-hander Lim Ji-min (23) was rushed to the hospital after taking a hard-hit ball to his face.
An NC club official stated on the 14th regarding the Busan Lotte Giants game that "Lim Ji-min was hit by a pitch in the face and transported to a hospital."
Here is how the situation unfolded. With NC leading 9-6 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Lim Ji-min took the mound following his appearance in the bottom of the 8th. He struck out Gangnam with three pitches and forced Hwang Sung-bin into a swinging strikeout, but allowed a ground ball single to Na Seung-yeop and an error on a wild pitch. Victor Reyes persistently fouled off Lim Ji-min's pitches and then hit the fourth-pitch inside delivery hard.
That ball unfortunately struck Lim Ji-min directly in the face. The ball glanced off Lim Ji-min's face and rolled to the side, while Reyes advanced to first base and was recorded as a final infield single.
Lim Ji-min, hit by the ball, collapsed on the ground. Even in his dazed state, he tracked the ball with his eyes, and footage captured during the broadcast showed blood pouring from the corner of his mouth. Everyone gathered at Sajik Baseball Stadium was shocked. Reyes, who had hit him, stood stunned at first base without even putting on his helmet as he watched Lim Ji-min receive treatment.
There was also a minor incident. The ambulance prepared in the outfield could not easily enter through the Sajik outfield fence, causing a delay for some time. Fortunately, Lim Ji-min got up on his own and walked to the waiting ambulance to board it. According to an NC club official, Lim Ji-min went directly to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Afterward, relief pitcher Kim Tae-hoon allowed consecutive RBI hits: a two-run single to Han Dong-hee and a one-run single to Ko Seung-min. However, he retired Yoon Dong-hee with a ground ball to the third baseman, securing a 9-8 victory for NC.
NC starting pitcher Natsuki Toda continued his strong performance against Lotte, pitching five innings while allowing nine hits, two walks (one walk and one hit-by-pitch), striking out two batters, and giving up two earned runs. In contrast, Lotte's Kim Jin-wook, who returned after a ten-day break, collapsed over five innings, allowing eight hits (including two home runs), three walks (two walks and one hit-by-pitch), striking out five batters, and surrendering six earned runs.
Throughout the game, NC built an early lead while Lotte chased. The turning point came in the top of the 9th inning with the score tied at 6-6. Lotte closer Kim Won-jung hit Cheon Jae-hwan and Kim Ju-won consecutively, then committed a wild pitch that created a bases-loaded, no-out crisis. Another wild pitch resulted in one run scoring, and he also allowed a two-run single to Lee Woo-seong.
Eventually, he was replaced by Lee Young-jae, who also surrendered a big inning after allowing a one-run double to Park Geon-woo that cleared the left field fence.
Lim Ji-min, who had entered in the bottom of the 8th with two outs and runners on second and third base and retired the side without allowing any runs, was awarded the win. Kim Tae-hoon, who closed out the game without surrendering the lead, recorded his first save of the season.
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*This content was translated by AI.
