The NC Dinos redeemed themselves from the previous day's heavy defeat, handing the Samsung Lions their first loss of the season. Matt Davidson celebrated his birthday with a bang.
On the 26th, the NC Dinos secured an 8-6 victory against the Samsung Lions in the regular season game of the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League' held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. NC now has a season record of 2 wins and 2 losses, while Samsung suffered their first defeat after opening with 3 straight wins.
NC started with Shin Min-hyuk on the mound. Park Min-woo (second baseman), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Son Ah-seop (right fielder), Davidson (first baseman), Park Geon-woo (center fielder), Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), Han Jae-hwan (designated hitter), and Seo Ho-cheol (third baseman) were in the starting lineup.
Samsung named Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Lee Jae-hyun (shortstop), Koo Ja-wook (left fielder), Kang Min-ho (catcher), Diaz (designated hitter), Kim Young-woong (third baseman), Park Byung-ho (first baseman), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second baseman), and Yoon Jung-bin (right fielder) in their starting lineup. The starting pitcher was left-hander Lee Seung-hyun.
After suffering a heavy loss of 5-14 the previous day, the NC Dinos sought to redeem themselves from the very first inning. After one out in the top of the first inning, Kim Joo-won and Son Ah-seop hit consecutive singles to create a no-out, first and second base opportunity, and Davidson delivered an RBI double to left field for the first run. In the continuing opportunity with one out and runners on second and third, Park Geon-woo added another run with a groundout to third base.
In the second inning, Park Min-woo showcased a one-man show. After one out, Park Min-woo reached base with a single to right field. He then stole both second and third base during Kim Joo-won’s at-bat, creating a one-out, third base opportunity, and Kim Joo-won’s sacrifice fly extended the lead to 3-0.
In the third inning, lead-off hitter Davidson set up an opportunity with a double that went over the center fielder's head. Although Park Geon-woo was retired on a fielder's choice, Kwon Hee-dong walked, and Kim Hyung-jun continued with a single to left field for a one-out, bases loaded opportunity. Han Jae-hwan scored another run with a hit by pitch, making it 4-0. However, in the ensuing one-out, bases loaded opportunity, Seo Ho-cheol was retired on a double play, failing to add additional runs.
The NC Dinos scored in every inning. In the fourth inning, after two outs, Son Ah-seop continued with a triple to right field. Samsung's right fielder Yoon Jung-bin attempted a sliding catch, but the ball got past him, allowing Son Ah-seop to comfortably reach third base. Following a wild pitch, Son Ah-seop scored, making it 5-0.
NC's starting pitcher Shin Min-hyuk dominated with three perfect innings, overpowering Samsung. However, the Samsung comeback began in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lead-off hitter Kim Ji-chan opened the scoring with a single to right field, and Lee Jae-hyun's walk set up a no-out, first and second base opportunity. Koo Ja-wook hit an RBI double to right field to bring in a run. In the continuing no-out, second and third base situation, Kang Min-ho added another run with a groundout to shortstop. The opportunity continued with one out and third base, but Diaz flew out to second base and Kim Young-woong struck out, failing to score additional runs.
NC continued to extend their lead. In the fifth inning, lead-off hitter Park Geon-woo hit a double to the gap in right-center, followed by a hit by pitch for Kwon Hee-dong and a sacrifice bunt by Kim Hyung-jun, setting up a one-out, second and third base opportunity. Han Jae-hwan added another run with an RBI single to right, but the runner on second, Kwon Hee-dong, was thrown out at home, preventing further scoring. The score became 6-2.
In the top of the sixth inning, NC created an opportunity with a walk for Son Ah-seop after one out, and Davidson hit a two-run homer over the center field fence. It was a birthday celebration. The gap widened to 8-2.
Samsung did not give up on their counterattack. After starter Shin Min-hyuk pitched only 5 innings before leaving, they targeted the NC bullpen, which started in the sixth inning. Kim Ji-chan and Lee Jae-hyun reached base with consecutive hit by pitches, creating a no-out, first and second base opportunity. Koo Ja-wook brought in a run with an RBI single to right field. As the no-out, first and second base situation continued, Kang Min-ho added on with another RBI single to right, narrowing the gap to 4-8. A no-out, first and third base chance presented itself, but Diaz struck out, Kim Young-woong popped out to third base, and Park Byung-ho grounded out to shortstop, failing to score again. Kim Jin-ho came in with no outs and runners on first and third, pitching 2 innings with 1 hit allowed, 3 strikeouts, and no runs to diffuse the crisis.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Samsung targeted NC closer Ryu Jin-wook. Lead-off hitter Kim Young-woong hit a double to the gap in right-center, and Park Byung-ho followed with a two-run homer to left field, bringing them closer. It marked Park Byung-ho's third consecutive home run.
Starting pitcher Shin Min-hyuk earned his first win of the season with a performance of 5 innings, 77 pitches, 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. Davidson, celebrating his birthday, went 3-for-5 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored, displaying a powerful batting performance. Son Ah-seop also recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats and scored 2 runs. All starters recorded hits, perfectly avenging the previous day's heavy defeat.
Samsung's starter Lee Seung-hyun took the loss after allowing 5 earned runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, 1 hit by pitch, and 1 strikeout over 3⅔ innings.
[OSEN]