The NC Dinos redeemed themselves from their opening game loss and gave manager Lee Ho-jun his first victory.

NC won 5-4 against the KIA Tigers in the second game of the 2025 professional baseball season held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 23rd. Starter Riley Thompson performed well, and the bullpen held strong without allowing any runs. At bat, Park Min-woo hit the decisive two-RBI triple. KIA, missing Kim Do-young, struggled offensively and split the two opening games.

Looking to bounce back from their opening game loss, NC fielded a starting lineup of Park Min-woo (second base), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Son Ah-seop (right field), Davidson (first base), Park Gun-woo (center field), Kwon Hee-dong (left field), Seo Ho-cheol (third base), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), and Kim Hwi-jip (designated hitter). Right-hander Riley Thompson took the mound. The number of pitches and control would be crucial.

Challenging for a winning streak, KIA fielded Park Chan-ho (shortstop), Choi Won-jun (center field), Na Sung-bum (right field), Wisdom (first base), Choi Hyung-woo (designated hitter), Kim Sun-bin (second base), Lee Woo-sung (left field), Han Jun-soo (catcher), and Yoon Do-hyun (third base). The starting pitcher was Yang Hyun-jong. Instead of Kim Do-young, who was sidelined due to a hamstring injury the previous day, Yoon Do-hyun was positioned at third base.

NC was unable to capitalize on the leadoff double by Park Min-woo in the first inning. However, in the second inning, Davidson hit a solo home run (his first) to right-center, taking the lead. After Park Gun-woo's single to right and Kwon Hee-dong's walk, Kim Hyung-jun hit a clutch single that went through the gap in the third base side, putting NC ahead 2-0.

KIA responded with a big hit. In the bottom of the second, after Kim Sun-bin got on base with a single to center, Lee Woo-sung crushed a 153 km fastball from Riley for a 130-meter home run to center field. It was his first home run of the season. The intentional change to a fly ball strategy paid off with a long hit, tying the game at 2-2. However, KIA struggled to properly attack Riley afterward.

NC targeted Yang Hyun-jong again in the fourth inning. Kwon Hee-dong drew a walk. Although Seo Ho-cheol and Kim Hyung-jun struck out, Kim Hwi-jip advanced to first on a hit-by-pitch. Park Min-woo, who has been strong against Yang Hyun-jong, drove a slider that fell outside after a full-count battle into the corner for a triple, allowing all the runners to score and putting NC back in the lead at 4-2.

Yang Hyun-jong pitched only through the fifth inning. He threw 84 pitches over 5 innings, allowing 6 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 4 earned runs. He mixed fastballs, change-ups, sliders, and curves (three types) in his pitching. His maximum speed was recorded at 146 km, with an average of 141 km. NC added another run when KIA's pitcher Lim Ki-young came to the mound in the sixth inning. After Kwon Hee-dong reached first base on a single to left, a sacrifice bunt was executed. After two outs, Kim Hwi-jip hit a clean single to left for an RBI, extending the lead to 5-2.

Riley had held well with only 2 earned runs through the fifth, but in the sixth, he did not receive defensive support. A routine hit by Wisdom resulted in a collision between center fielder Park Gun-woo and left fielder Kwon Hee-dong, which allowed the ball to remain in play. After one out, Kim Sun-bin hit a double that rolled to the left fence, narrowing the score to 3-5. Riley was then taken out of the game. Considering KIA's batting lineup and NC's bullpen, they were still in striking distance.

This was not the same NC bullpen that faltered the previous day. Sidearm pitcher Kim Min-kyu came in to record 3 outs. After left-hander Kim Tae-hyun, Son Joo-hwan held the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, Jeon Sa-min, who had previously allowed 4 earned runs, returned to the mound and pitched a clean inning. In the ninth inning, closer Ryu Jin-wook allowed 1 earned run but did not give up the lead. KIA saw Han Jun-soo hit a home run for the second consecutive game in the ninth but failed to take the lead.

Riley showcased pitches including a maximum fastball of 156 km, along with sliders, knuckle curves, and splitters against the KIA lineup. He recorded 5.1 innings with 4 hits allowed, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs (2 unearned). He benefitted from having his low-falling knuckle curve called a strike, effectively doing his part. It was a pleasing first start victory.

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