Game Summary
The Doosan Bears escaped Changwon with a 6-4 victory over the NC Dinos on Tuesday night, surviving a late rally and miscues in the ninth inning to secure a crucial win in the pennant race. After squandering opportunities through seven innings, the Bears broke through against the Dinos’ depleted bullpen, with catcher Ui-ji Yang delivering the deciding blow on a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the ninth.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doosan Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| NC Dinos | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Doosan’s starter Benjamin cruised through five innings of two-hit ball, striking out five while allowing just three runs. But it was the final three innings that proved decisive, as NC’s pitching staff unraveled under pressure. The Dinos committed three errors down the stretch, and their relief corps couldn’t find the strike zone when it mattered most.
For NC, the loss marked another frustrating evening in what has become a difficult August. The Dinos’ hitters generated some momentum early, but couldn’t capitalize on scoring chances. Starter Riley was solid enough through six frames, giving up just two runs on six hits, yet his team couldn’t provide sufficient run support.
Pitching Performance
Benjamin’s outing set the tone for Doosan. The foreign right-hander showed excellent command through five innings, surrendering four hits and two walks while punching out five NC batters. He departed after 90 pitches with a 2-3 deficit, but his teammates would chip away at that lead over the coming innings.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doosan Bears | ||||||
| Benjamin | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Kim Jung-woo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Takada | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kim Taek-yeon [W] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lee Young-ha [S] | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| NC Dinos | ||||||
| Riley | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Lee Yong-jun [H] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jeon Sa-min | 0 ⅔ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Choi Yo-han | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Son Joo-hwan [L] | 0 ⅔ | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Jin-ho | 0 ⅓ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Bae Jae-hwan | 0 ⅓ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Dinos got adequate work from Riley, their starter, who struck out seven across six innings despite allowing the same number of hits. The problem wasn’t Riley’s performance—it was what came after. NC’s bullpen combusted in the late innings. Jeon Sa-min recorded just one out before surrendering two hits and a walk. Choi Yo-han walked a batter without recording an out. Son Ju-hwan entered with bases loaded in the ninth and promptly gave up a hit and a walk to seal his loss. Kim Jin-ho and Bae Jae-hwan combined to walk four batters without retiring anyone, turning a manageable situation into a rout.
Doosan’s relief unit was steadier. Kim Jung-woo, Takata, Kim Taek-yeon, and closer Young-ha Lee combined to allow just one run over the final four innings while striking out three. Lee earned the save despite allowing two hits and a run in the ninth, benefiting from defensive plays that got the Bears out of trouble.
Offensive Highlights
The Bears struggled to generate consistent offense through much of the evening, but their bats came alive in the sixth inning when it counted most. Junho Yun connected for his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot off Riley that drew Doosan within 3-2. Four pitches later, Yang followed with his 16th homer of the year, a drive that tied the game at 3-3.
| Batter | AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doosan Bears | |||||
| Kim Dae-han | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jo Soo-haeng | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yang Eui-ji | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Kim Min-seok | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jung Su-bin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Yoon Jun-ho | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| NC Dinos | |||||
| Kim Hwi-jip | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Park Gun-woo | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lee Woo-sung | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ahn Jung-yeol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Su-haeng Jo was a bright spot throughout, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base in the third. Dae-han Kim added two hits in five at-bats, while Min-suk Kim contributed a single and an RBI. Su-bin Jung, pinch-hitting in the ninth, delivered the crucial go-ahead hit in that chaotic final frame.
The Dinos couldn’t sustain any offensive rhythm. Whi-jib Kim managed a hit and an RBI, and Geon-woo Park also drove in a run, but the rest of the lineup sputtered. U-sung Lee and Blaine each collected two hits, though neither could do much to move runners into scoring position when opportunities presented themselves.
Key Play
The turning point arrived in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. Ui-ji Yang worked the count and drew ball four, pushing across the go-ahead run. It was a simple play—a walk—yet everything about the situation screamed drama. Son Ju-hwan’s inability to locate his fastball proved costly. NC then committed a third error on a ground ball, allowing another run to score and widening Doosan’s margin to 6-4. The Dinos’ defense, which had been shaky all evening, failed them when they needed it most.
Standings Impact
With the win, Doosan improved to 58-50-4 and holds fifth place, still 4.5 games behind the playoff line. The Bears remain very much in contention despite their middling record. For NC, now sitting at 48-56-2 in eighth place, the loss dropped them further below the playoff threshold. The Dinos are running out of time and margin for error as September approaches.