Game Summary
The NC Dinos pulled off a thrilling comeback at home, edging the first-place KT Wiz 6-5 on Wednesday night in a back-and-forth affair that kept fans on their feet through the final inning. Kim Ju-won’s go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning proved to be the difference as NC’s bullpen shut the door in the ninth, preserving the victory and handing KT only their third loss in their last 20 games.
KT struck first and hard, putting early pressure on Dinos starter Taylor with Hilliard’s two-run blast in the first inning. The visiting Wiz threatened to run away with the game, but NC chipped away methodically, refusing to let the deficit balloon. The Dinos’ patience at the plate eventually paid off as their lineup found its rhythm against KT’s rotating cast of relief arms in the middle innings.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KT Wiz | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| NC Dinos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Pitching Performance
Taylor was solid for the Dinos across seven innings, surrendering five hits and four runs while striking out six. He worked around some traffic and kept the game close enough for his team to mount a comeback. The right-hander walked only one, showing good control despite the early home run to Hilliard.
KT’s Daniel lasted five innings in the starting role, giving up just two hits and two runs on two walks and five strikeouts. His performance was serviceable, but the Wiz couldn’t afford to lean heavily on their bullpen against a team desperate for wins. That decision came back to haunt them. Jeon Yong-ju pitched a clean inning out of the pen, but the situation unraveled quickly. Lee Sang-dong couldn’t record an out, allowing a hit and a walk. Sugimoto came in and gave up two hits and a run in two-thirds of an inning. By the time Son Dong-hyun took the mound in the eighth, the damage was mounting. His inability to escape the inning—surrendering Kim Ju-won’s homer—ended KT’s hopes of stealing this one on the road.
Im Ji-min earned the save with a scoreless ninth despite a wild pitch that could have complicated matters. Son Ju-hwan and Shin Young-woo each worked brief stints for NC, with Shin issuing two walks but allowing nothing to score. Lee Yong-jun got the win after pitching two-thirds of an inning of relief, showing composure in a critical situation.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KT Wiz | ||||||
| Daniel | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Jeon Yong-ju [H] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sang-dong Lee | 0 ⅓ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Sugimoto | 0 ⅔ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Son Dong-hyun [L] | 0 ⅔ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bae Je-sung | 0 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NC Dinos | ||||||
| Taylor | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Son Ju-hwan | 0 ⅔ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shin Young-woo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Lee Yong-jun [W] | 0 ⅔ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Im Ji-min [S] | 0 ⅔ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Offensive Highlights
An’s Joong-yeol was the story for NC, launching two homers and driving in four runs. His second-inning solo shot got the Dinos on the board, then his three-run blast in the seventh tied the game and shifted momentum decisively in their favor. An also collected two hits, proving to be the most dangerous bat in the lineup when it mattered most.
Hilliard continued his hot streak for KT with a two-run homer off Taylor in the opening frame, his 30th of the season. Kwon Dong-jin added another long ball in the third inning, a solo shot that extended KT’s lead to 4-1 at one point. Ryu Hyun-in drove in a run while going 1-for-4, unable to replicate earlier offensive success.
Kim Ju-won’s eighth-inning blast was the game-winner, a solo homer that put NC ahead for good. Kim Min-hyeok’s pickoff in the fourth inning for NC showed defensive awareness that helped keep runners off the bases when it counted. Park Si-won’s stolen base in the seventh kept the Dinos’ momentum rolling in the late innings.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KT Wiz | |||||
| Hilliard | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Jang Jin-hyuk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ryu Hyun-in | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kwon Dong-jin | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| NC Dinos | |||||
| Kim Ju-won | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Hwi-jip | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ahn Jung-yeol | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Key Play
The pivotal moment arrived in the eighth inning with two outs and nobody on base. Kim Ju-won stepped into the box against relievers who had already squandered KT’s lead, and he launched a solo home run to right field that proved to be the decisive blow. It was a classic case of a closer look at his home run totals—his 14th of the season—and one that the Dinos will remember fondly. An’s three-run shot in the seventh had knotted things up at 4-4, but it was Ju-won’s clutch swing that ultimately decided it.
Standings Impact
The loss keeps KT atop the KBO standings at 62 wins, 40 losses, and 2 draws—still commanding a healthy grip on first place despite the defeat. NC, meanwhile, stays firmly planted in seventh place at 46-53-2, but this victory provides some much-needed confidence as they chase respectability down the stretch. The Dinos remain 16 games behind the Wiz in the standings, but nights like this remind them they can compete with anybody when their bats come alive.