The NC Dinos swept the KT Wiz in the first round of the playoffs behind a strong pitching performance from starter Eric Peddie (30) and an explosion from the bats.
NC won the first game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason Playoffs 9-5 against KT Wiz at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, at 6:30 p.m. on April 30.
NC’s starting pitcher threw 98 pitches in six innings, allowing one run and three hits (one home run) while walking one and striking out 12. At the plate, designated hitter Son As-seop went 3-for-5 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored.
KT WIZ starting right-hander William Cuevas took the loss, throwing 75 pitches in three innings, allowing seven runs (four earned), six hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
In the best-of-five playoffs, Game 1 is a big deal. Since the best-of-five playoffs began in 1986, the team that wins Game 1 has advanced to the Korean Series 78.1 percent of the time. Both teams chose an ace to start the game, setting the stage for a tight contest.
NC was the first team to strike first. In the first inning, leadoff hitter Son As-seop singled to right-center and Park Min-woo doubled to left-center to put runners on second and third with no outs.
The next batter, Park Gun-woo, struck out swinging, but Jason Martin’s RBI single gave NC the lead.
With the momentum going their way, NC added another run in the top of the second on a solo shot to left field by leadoff hitter Oh Young-soo. Oh crushed an outside fastball from Cuevas for a 120-meter home run.
NC continued to pressure KT Wiz. In the top of the third, leadoff hitter Park Min-woo reached on an error by Hwang Jae-gyun. He was followed by Park Gun-woo’s RBI double to make it 3-0.
In the next at-bat, NC had to settle for Martin’s grounder to second base, which allowed Park to reach third base. From there, Kwon Hee-dong hit an RBI single to make it 4-0.
KT WIZ fought back. In the bottom of the third inning, leadoff hitter Moon Sang-chul pushed Pedi’s outside two-seam fastball for a solo shot. With this single, KT WIZ managed to pull within 1-4. 굿모닝토토 주소
Despite giving up one run on Moon’s home run, NC’s bats didn’t cool down. In the top of the fourth inning, leadoff hitter Kim Hyung-jun led off with a walk, then Kim Joo-won’s sacrifice bunt and Cuevas’ throwing error at second base put runners on first and second.
With runners on second and third on a wild pitch, NC scored one more run on an RBI single by Son Ah-seop. Park Min-woo followed with an RBI single and Park Gun-woo made it 6-0. With Martin retiring the next batter on a fly ball to left field, NC made it 8-1 with a two-run triple by Kwon Hee-dong.