'Eight consecutive QS → 1.85 ERA in second half' Riley: "Last year, everyone said it would be hard to reach the playoffs... NC dreams of an autumn miracle

*This content was translated by AI.

The gap is now 4.5 games. NC Dinos is tightening its reins to catch the last train to autumn baseball. At the center of this effort is ace Riley Thompson (30), the wins leader from last season.

Riley started against Kiwoom Heroes in a road game at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 4th as part of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League schedule, throwing 88 pitches over six innings to deliver an outstanding performance with seven hits allowed, no walks, and seven strikeouts while surrendering only one run.

The lineup provided scoring support from the early innings, allowing NC to secure a comfortable 6-1 victory. Riley, who led the league with 18 wins last season, has now reached seven wins (one loss) this season amid relentless bad luck but is building momentum for a potential 10th win thanks to an incredible second-half turnaround.

His first-half ERA was a respectable 3.53, and he had no losses, though he managed only four wins in 11 games. Missing nearly 40 days due to injury was a painful blow.

He has since perfectly filled that gap. Starting with his July 4 outing against KIA (six innings, three earned runs), Riley has delivered eight consecutive quality starts through today — defined as six or more innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs allowed. His second-half ERA is an impressive 1.84. Over 44 innings, he recorded 53 strikeouts.

The same pattern held true on this day. The lineup began generating offense from the top of the first inning. Taking advantage of shaky control by Kiwoom starter An Woo-jin, Kim Ju-won reached on a ground-rule double to left field, and Choi Jung-won drew a walk on a full-count pitch, setting up the table. With one out and runners on second and third bases, Blaine's sacrifice fly to center field followed by Park Geon-woo's walk put runners in scoring position. Kim Hwi-jip then delivered a two-run double to give NC a 2-0 lead.

Riley also had a challenging first inning. With one out, he allowed a double to Choo Jae-hyun and gave up a run-scoring single to Matt Davidson.

However, he received lineup support once again. After Kim Hyung-jun's leadoff hit in the top of the second inning, Cheon Jae-hwan and Kim Ju-won struck out consecutively, but consecutive hits from Choi Jung-won and Park Min-woo added another run to the score.

Riley finished the bottom of the second cleanly, including two strikeouts, and retired the side in order in the third. In the fourth, with one out and runners on first and second, he struck out Jeon Tae-hyun but allowed an infield hit to Kim Jae-hyun, loading the bases with two outs. He then escaped the jam by striking out Kwon Hyuk-bin with a low slider, extinguishing his own trouble.

In the fifth, with one out and runners on second base, he induced a line drive double play from Davidson at shortstop. He returned for the sixth inning and retired the side in just 12 pitches. The lineup extended its lead to 4-1 with Park Min-woo's line-drive single to center field followed by a stolen base at second, and Kim Hwi-jip's two-run double. Having thrown only 88 pitches, Riley did not overexert himself and handed the ball to the bullpen without issue.

From the seventh inning onward, Lee Ho-jun, Kim Jin-ho, and Song Myeong-gi each pitched a scoreless inning with stability. The lineup further solidified its lead in the top of the eighth when Blaine delivered a two-run single with two outs and runners on second and third, pushing the score to 6-1.

With this victory, NC extended its winning streak to six games, improving their record to 54 wins, 58 losses, and two ties, narrowing the gap to 4.5 games over fifth-place Doosan Bears, who are currently on a four-game losing streak. Last year, NC made an incredible late-season surge to catch the last playoff train by just half a game. Now, they aim for another autumn miracle. With 30 games remaining, the gap still appears large, but given that Doosan must fill critical absences — including their top two starters Kwak Bin and Choi Min-seok during the Asian Games, as well as key lineup member Park Jun-soon — there is a realistic chance they could challenge for fifth place.

According to NC, manager Lee Ho-jun expressed satisfaction after the game: "Riley and Kim Hyung-jun showed excellent battery chemistry. Riley led the team's winning streak with stable pitching befitting a number-one starter, and the relievers who followed also shut down the opposing lineup effectively with aggressive pitching, maintaining our lead."

He continued, "The lineup has shown improved hitting overall. Rather than relying on specific players, multiple batters have consistently produced hits. Blaine, Park Min-woo, and Kim Hwi-jip delivered timely hits when needed, accumulating runs. It was also positive that the lineup's momentum carried through to the later innings." He added, "The fans' support has been a tremendous boost as we continue our winning streak. We are grateful to all fans who regularly visit the stadium to cheer for us, and we will prepare diligently to maintain this favorable momentum."

Riley, the key figure in today's victory, also expressed satisfaction: "I came onto the mound in good condition today, but various circumstances made it a difficult game. Thanks to the help of my teammates on both offense and defense, I was able to compete against opposing batters on the mound."

Riley also dreams of autumn baseball. "Last year, everyone said our team would struggle to reach the playoffs, yet we ultimately made it. I believe that if we don't rush through the remaining games this season and focus on each game one by one, good results will follow."

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*This content was translated by AI.