Daegu: The NC Dinos emerged victorious against the Samsung Lions with a 4-1 win on Monday, kicking off the 2025 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. This result, achieved through strategic pitching and timely hitting, has set the stage for a second game in the wild card round.
According to Yonhap News Agency, left-handed pitcher Koo Chang-mo delivered a solid performance, allowing just one run over six innings. His effort was supported by a solo home run from catcher Kim Hyung-jun before an enthusiastic crowd of 23,680 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Cleanup hitter Matt Davidson also contributed significantly with two RBIs.
Despite the loss, the Lions, seeded fourth, still have a chance to progress to the next round with at least a tie in Tuesday's rematch in Daegu. Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded Dinos must secure another win to advance further in the postseason. The wild card round, introduced by the KBO in 2015, has seen only one fifth seed, the 2024 KT Wiz, progress beyond this stage.
The Dinos, having clinched their postseason spot with a nine-game winning streak at the end of the regular season, continued their momentum with this victory. They initiated scoring early, with three singles off Lions' starter Ariel Jurado in the first inning, including an RBI hit by Davidson. Their lead expanded to 2-0 in the second inning through Kim Whee-jip's groundout.
In the fifth inning, the Dinos added two runs, with Kim Hyung-jun's home run and another RBI from Davidson. However, the team faced setbacks with Kim Hyung-jun exiting due to a wrist injury and designated hitter Park Kun-woo leaving the game with a hamstring issue.
Koo, making his fifth start after military service, managed to restrict the Lions to three hits over four innings, conceding a solo home run to Lee Sung-gyu in the fifth. The Dinos' bullpen, comprising Kim Young-kyu, Chun Sa-min, and Kim Jin-ho, maintained the lead by pitching scoreless innings.
Dinos manager Lee Ho-joon expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, attributing their success to maintaining their regular-season momentum. He praised Koo's pitching and highlighted concerns regarding Kim Hyung-jun's injury, noting the limited catcher options available for the team.
Davidson remarked on the team's underdog status, which has allowed them to play without pressure and surprise opponents. The Dinos, initially not expected to reach the postseason, now face the challenge of repeating their performance against the Lions.
For the Lions, manager Park Jin-man acknowledged their struggle to capitalize on opportunities against Koo and emphasized the need for a better offensive strategy in the upcoming game. The Lions will rely on pitcher Won Tae-in, who has shown strong performance against the Dinos this season, while the Dinos will counter with Logan Allen.