“Bears’ 200th Home Run” Yang Eui-ji Silences Former Team NC… Doosan Cements Fifth Place with Seven-Game Lead, Nails Down Fall Berth [Jamsil On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Doosan Bears, regulars at “fall miracles,” secured a precious victory that dashed the NC Dinos’ hopes for the postseason. Coincidentally, Yang Eui-ji (39), who had transferred to NC before returning, delivered his 200th home run in a Doosan uniform and brought the team a win.

Doosan defeated NC 5-2 in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 29th.

With this victory, fifth-place Doosan improved to a record of 68 wins, 63 losses, and 5 draws, widening the gap over sixth-place NC (62 wins, 71 losses, 2 draws) to seven games.

Both teams immediately deployed their keystone combinations, Kim Ju-won (NC) and Park Jun-soon (Doosan), who had just returned from winning a gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Doosan set its starting lineup as Park Chan-ho (shortstop)-Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman)-Park Jun-soon (designated hitter)-Yang Eui-ji (catcher)-Kim Min-seok (left fielder)-Kang Seung-ho (second baseman)-Yang Seok-hwan (first baseman)-Jo Su-haeng (right fielder)-Jung Soo-bin (center fielder). Wes Benjamin took the mound as the starting pitcher.

NC countered with Kim Ju-won (shortstop)-Cheon Jae-hwan (right fielder)-Park Min-woo (second baseman)-Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman)-Blaine Crim (designated hitter)-Kim Hyung-jun (catcher)-Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder)-Shin Jae-in (first baseman)-Oh Tae-yang (center fielder). Lee Jae-hak started on the mound.

NC held the early momentum. Against Benjamin, Cheon Jae-hwan hit a triple down the right-center line with one out in the top of the first inning, and Park Min-woo followed with a left-field single to drive the runner home. In the second inning, leadoff hitter Kim Hyung-jun reached on a double, and Oh Tae-yang delivered a two-run RBI double with two outs.

However, Doosan struck back immediately. The bottom of the second inning began with a walk for leadoff hitter Kim Min-seok, followed by hits from Kang Seung-ho and Yang Seok-hwan’s sacrifice bunt, then Jo Su-haeng drew a walk. Jung Soo-bin hit a two-run tying RBI single, stole a base, and advanced on a groundout, before Ahn Jae-seok delivered the go-ahead RBI hit to shift the momentum.

The lineup continued to lighten Benjamin’s burden in the third inning. Yang Eui-ji got things started. As the leadoff hitter, Yang did not miss a fastball thrown down the middle by relief pitcher Kim Tae-gyeong. The ball cleared the left-field fence for a solo home run.

It was Yang’s 21st home run of the season and his 200th as a member of Doosan. It marked his 303rd career home run.

Following Kim Min-seok’s center-field single, Jo Su-haeng hit a two-run RBI double with two outs to extend the lead by three runs.

A three-run cushion was ample comfort for Benjamin to secure the win. After retiring all three batters in the third inning, Benjamin navigated the fourth and fifth innings without major trouble before handing the ball to the bullpen in the sixth.

Takata Takuto, who entered in the sixth inning, threw 33 pitches to erase two innings. He recorded a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts, and in the seventh, he induced a double play despite issuing a walk to close out the frame cleanly.

Kim Tae-yeon, who took the mound in the eighth inning, threw fastballs up to 155 km/h and struck out two batters to erase one inning.

In the ninth inning, closer Lee Young-ha entered and issued a hit-by-pitch to Kwon Hee-dong with one out, followed by a walk to Shin Jae-in. He then struck out Oh Tae-yang but allowed another walk to Kim Ju-won, facing a bases-loaded threat with two outs. However, third baseman Ahn Jae-seok dove to field Cheon Jae-hwan’s hard-hit ball, ending the game right there.

Benjamin collected his eighth win of the season (seven losses). Lee Young-ha recorded his 24th save (six wins, five losses).

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*This content was translated by AI.