The professional baseball team Lotte Giants achieved a fortunate three-game winning streak through a rain delay and secured a winning series.
Lotte won 2-0 in the 8th inning against the NC Dinos in the second away game of the regular season of the '2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League' held at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium on the 12th. With this victory, Lotte marked a record of 8 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie this season. They also secured a winning series. On the other hand, NC suffered a losing series with their second consecutive loss, bringing their season record to 6 wins and 9 losses.
Lotte's starting lineup consisted of Hwang Seong-bin (center fielder), Ko Seung-min (second baseman), Na Seung-yeop (first baseman), RAY (left fielder), Kim Min-seong (third baseman), Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter), Jang Doo-seong (right fielder), Jeong Bo-geun (catcher), and Jeon Min-jae (shortstop). The starting pitcher was Tucker Davidson.
NC's starting lineup included Kwon Hee-dong (center fielder), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Son Ah-seop (right fielder), Davidson (first baseman), Park Han-gyeol (left fielder), Kim Hwi-jip (third baseman), Oh Young-soo (designated hitter), Kim Hyung-jun (catcher), and Seo Ho-cheol (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Shin Min-hyeok.
Both Lotte and NC had opportunities, but the game proceeded with a pattern of failing to score. Lotte had a chance in the top of the first inning, with two outs after Na Seung-yeop's walk and RAY's single to center, but Kim Min-seong grounded out to third base and could not capitalize on the opportunity. NC also had an opportunity in the bottom of the first inning, as Son Ah-seop reached base on a second baseman's error with two outs, but there was no follow-up hit.
Lotte scored first in the top of the third inning. Leadoff batter Jeon Min-jae reached base with a hit to center. Hwang Seong-bin's single to left created a chance with no outs and runners on first and second. Though Ko Seung-min hit into a double play, it resulted in two outs and a runner on third, and Na Seung-yeop delivered a timely hit to center, scoring the first run.
NC responded in the bottom of the third inning with a walk by the lower batting order's Kim Hyung-jun, and Seo Ho-cheol's single to center created a chance with no outs and runners on first and second. However, Kwon Hee-dong's bunt attempt struck his own leg outside the batter's box, resulting in an out, leaving one out with runners on first and second. Kim Joo-won's hit to left center was caught by left fielder RAY, resulting in two outs with runners on first and second. Son Ah-seop's infield single continued the momentum for NC, leading to a bases-loaded situation with two outs. However, Davidson could not handle three fastballs, striking out on three pitches and ending the scoring opportunity.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, NC regained a scoring chance with consecutive walks to Park Han-gyeol and Kim Hwi-jip, creating an opportunity with no outs and runners on first and second. However, Oh Young-soo struck out, Kim Hyung-jun struck out again, and Seo Ho-cheol flew out to left field, thwarting another chance. Once again, left fielder RAY's excellent defensive play prevented a run.
Lotte finally added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. Leadoff batter Jeon Min-jae reached base with a single to left, and a wild pitch from the opposing team created a chance with one out and a runner on third. Ko Seung-min struck out, but Na Seung-yeop's walk extended the opportunity to one out with runners on first and third, capped by RAY's timely hit to right, bringing the score to 2-0.
Davidson found his rhythm in the game, allowing a walk to leadoff batter Kwon Hee-dong in the fifth, but struck out Kim Joo-won and turned Son Ah-seop into a ground ball double play, closing out the inning. In the sixth inning, Davidson struck out Choi Jae-hwan and Kim Hwi-jip in succession and got Kim Hwi-jip to fly out to center, achieving a quality start with 6 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts, finishing without giving up a run.
Afterward, Lotte missed a scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh inning with a bases-loaded situation and two outs, as Jeon Jun-woo hit a ball on a 3-1 count and grounded out to shortstop. NC also failed to convert a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the seventh when leadoff batter Oh Young-soo singled to right.
In the top of the eighth inning, Lotte's leadoff batter Jang Doo-seong reached base with a single to left but failed to steal second. Afterwards, Jeong Bo-geun delivered a hit to center, putting one out with a runner on first. However, at that moment, the umpiring crew halted the game. The rain that had persisted since before the game continued to pour more heavily. The umpiring crew decided to suspend the game at 7:37 p.m.
For NC, which had managed to maintain a 2-run lead, this rain suspension decision was disappointing. NC manager Lee Ho-jun briefly protested to the umpires, expressing his dissatisfaction.
Afterward, they waited for over an hour. It had already been forecasted that rain would continue into the early morning. Eventually, the umpiring crew checked the condition of the field and attempted to continue the game. The players even came out onto the field. However, the umpiring crew pulled the players back and, at 8:48 p.m., called the game on account of rain. Lotte's Davidson claimed his first victory in his fourth appearance on the Korean stage.
[OSEN]