Like a miracle, 'and' Doosan's fall baseball berth too! A 9th-inning walk-off comeback drama — now eyeing 4th-place KIA [Jamsil on-site review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Doosan Bears secured a dramatic walk-off victory over the NC Dinos, clinching their fall baseball berth in what felt like a miracle.

On the 30th, at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Doosan defeated NC 6-5 with a thrilling 9th-inning walk-off comeback in their home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season.

With this win, Doosan, who stood alone in 5th place in the league, recorded 69 wins, 63 losses, and 5 draws, securing a postseason berth regardless of the results of their remaining seven games. This marked their second consecutive victory. Meanwhile, NC, who stood alone in 6th place, fell to three consecutive losses, recording 62 wins, 72 losses, and 2 draws. The gap between the two teams widened from seven games to eight. NC's elimination from fall baseball was confirmed regardless of the results of their remaining games.

Furthermore, Doosan narrowed the gap with 4th-place KIA Tigers from four games to three. This created a situation where they could now challenge for the 4th-place spot depending on the results of their remaining games. KIA has ten games left this season.

On this day, Doosan fielded its starting lineup in the following order: Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Ahn Jae-seok (third baseman), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Yang Eui-ji (designated hitter), Kim Min-seok (left fielder), Severino (first baseman), Jo Su-haeng (right fielder), Yoon Jun-ho (catcher), and Jung Soobin (center fielder). The starting pitcher was Jacklog.

NC set its starting lineup in the following order: Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Cheon Jae-hwan (right fielder), Blaine (designated hitter), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), Han Jae-hwan (first baseman), Kim Han-byul (second baseman), and Oh Tae-yang (center fielder). The starting pitcher was Riley Thompson.

Doosan scored the first run in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Following a single by Ahn Jae-seok to right field with one out, Park Jun-soon hit a single to center-right field, placing runners on first and second base. Doosan then executed a successful double steal to take runners to second and third base. On Yang Eui-ji's sacrifice fly to center field, runner-up Ahn Jae-seok from third base crossed home plate.

NC began targeting Jacklog, who had pitched scoreless through four innings, in the 5th inning. Leadoff batter Kim Han-byul reached on a single to center-right field and was replaced by pinch runner Choi Jeong-won. The following Oh Tae-yang hit an RBI double that landed just inside the left-field line, bringing home runner-up Choi Jeong-won from first base. The score tied at 1-1.

NC continued its pressure as Kim Ju-won's sacrifice bunt advanced runner-up Oh Tae-yang to third base. Then Cheon Jae-hwan hit an RBI single to center field, taking a 2-1 lead. After Blaine popped out to center field, Kim Hwi-jip stepped up to the plate. At this point, Cheon Jae-hwan successfully stole second base. Ultimately, Kim Hwi-jip hit an RBI single toward left field, and runner-up Cheon Jae-hwan from second base scored. The score became 3-1.

Doosan recovered one run with a big hit in the bottom of the 6th inning. Leadoff batter Severino faced Riley, attacking a high fastball on the body side as the fourth pitch with a 1-2 count. The well-struck ball soared over the right-field fence for a solo home run. It was Severino's sixth home run this season. The score narrowed to 3-2, a one-run difference.

The two teams exchanged one run each in the 8th inning. In the top of the 8th, NC's leadoff pinch hitter Ko Jun-hwi reached first base on a single to center-left field and advanced to second base on Choi Jeong-won's sacrifice bunt. Then, with two outs, Kim Ju-won hit an RBI single to center field. The score widened again to 4-2, a two-run gap.

Doosan immediately chased in the bottom of the 8th inning. Leadoff batter Yang Eui-ji reached on a hit by pitch off Bae Jae-hwan's first pitch. Yang Eui-ji was immediately replaced by pinch runner Jeon Da-min. Then, with one out, Severino hit a single to right field, extending the opportunity with runners on first and third base. As Severino was also replaced by pinch runner Kang Seung-ho, Jo Su-haeng hit a single to left field, bringing home runner-up Jeon Da-min from third base. The score narrowed again to 4-3, a one-run difference.

Although Doosan was trailing, they made the bold move of inserting closer Lee Young-ha in the top of the 9th inning. The calculation was to shut down the 9th inning scoreless and then decide the game in the bottom of the 9th. However, Lee Young-ha collapsed. He gave up a double to center-left field to leadoff batter Blaine. Kim Hwi-jip's sacrifice bunt resulted in one out with a runner on third base, and Kim Hyung-jun hit an RBI single to right field. The score widened again by two runs to 5-3. NC continued the opportunity with runners on first and third base as Park Min-woo also hit a single to right field. Ultimately, Doosan removed Lee Young-ha and brought Lee Byung-hun onto the pitcher's mound. Lee Byung-hun induced Shin Jae-in into a double play in front of shortstop to end the inning.

And baseball is indeed not over until it is over. The bottom of the 9th, Doosan's final offensive at-bat. Leadoff batter Park Chan-ho reached on a walk. Ahn Jae-seok grounded out to second base, resulting in one out with a runner on first base, and Park Jun-soon hit a single to right field, extending the opportunity with runners on first and third base. Here, NC removed Jeon Da-min and brought Son Ju-hwan onto the mound. Doosan sent pinch hitter Yang Seok-hwan, who drew a walk on the fifth pitch. Doosan created a bases-loaded situation. Then Kim Min-seok hit an RBI double that landed just inside the right-field line for two runs, tying the game at 5-5. NC replaced its pitcher with Shin Young-woo. Ultimately, on Kang Seung-ho's infield single toward second base in the next at-bat, runner-up Kim Dae-han from third base crossed home plate, ending the game with a 6-5 walk-off victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.