Recent 3-game losing streak. July’s monthly standings were 8th (NC Dinos) and 10th (Lotte Giants). The two teams in decline were desperate, and the victorious team was elated.

Day 1, Busan Sajik Stadium. The NC Dinos won the ninth game of the season against the Lotte Giants 6-3, led by Yoon Hyung-jun’s game-winning hit in the top of the 11th inning.

The win helped NC shake off the shock of a three-game sweep by the KT Wiz last weekend. Lotte, on the other hand, dropped their fourth straight game after a weekend sweep of the KIA Tigers and also lost to NC today.

LOTTE’s Wilkerson and NC’s Song Myung-ki in the starting lineup. LOTTE manager Larry Sutton said, “I hope Wilkerson can turn it around like he did in his last debut (5 innings, 2 runs, first win). He threw 76 pitches then, and I’m hoping for 100 pitches and six innings today. I hope he can create a good atmosphere.” Lotte showed their determination to win by having Sutton himself hit a pogo stick during pregame practice.

“Song Myung-ki gave up a lot of runs in the last game when the ball was driven up the middle (eight runs and six earned runs in four innings), but he’s recovered a lot,” said NC manager Kang Myung-hwa.

NC took the lead against Lotte in the bottom of the third inning. Lotte’s Kim Min-seok led off with a walk and then stole second base. Song Myung-ki, who had been pitching well, suddenly faltered as he set up the runners. Back-to-back singles by Park Seung-wook and Son Sung-bin, followed by Jung Hoon’s two-run double with runners on second and third, gave up three runs.

However, they answered back with two runs in the top of the fourth. One out later, Park Gun-woo singled to right field, but Lotte right fielder Ahn Kwon-soo lost sight of the ball, allowing him to score from second. NC Martin followed with a single to center field to put runners on first and third, and Kwon Hee-dong and Seo Ho-chul followed with back-to-back RBI singles to make it 2-3. Wilkerson made a heartwarming gesture to an apologetic Ahn Kwon-soo after the inning.

NC tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning when Park Gun-woo hit a two-run double directly over the center field fence.

Wilkerson and Song Myung-ki worked into the sixth inning to complete a quality start (6+ innings, 3 earned runs or less). Wilkerson showed off a variety of pitches, including a fastball that topped out at 148 mph, a sharp cutter, curve, changeup, and slider. In addition to his 147-kilometer fastball, Song Myung-ki kept Lotte hitters at bay with his slider and forkball.

In particular, NC settled down again in the fourth inning, and the defense of Park Min-woo, Seo Ho-cheol, and Park Gun-woo, as well as the bullpen of Kim Young-kyu and Ryu Jin-wook, held LOTTE to one hit and one walk until the end of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Jung Hoon singled to end the streak, but Yoon Dong-hee ended the inning. In the bottom of the 10th, Kim Min-seok, who also singled, was caught by Lim Jung-ho.

In the top of the seventh, NC had runners on first and third after Park Se-hyuk singled, Kim Joo-won sacrificed, and Son Ah-seob was hit by a pitch. However, Park Min-woo struck out the side. In the top of the eighth inning, NC’s Kwon Hee-dong’s shot from first base almost went sideways, but pitcher Choi Joon-yong leaped to catch it, making it 143. In the top of the 10th inning, NC’s Son Ah-seop, who led off with a single, stole second base but was thwarted by Lee Jung-geun.

However, NC scored three runs in the top of the 11th inning when Lotte’s Jin Seung-hyun was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Closer Lee Yong-chan closed out the game in the bottom of the 11th. Park went 4-for-4 with a home run and a walk to lead his team to victory. 파워볼게임