The Samsung Lions' '7 billion won free agent right-handed pitcher' Choi Won-tae faced misfortune, becoming the losing pitcher despite a strong performance of 6 innings with 2 earned runs due to the silence of the lineup. Following a lifeless shutout loss, Samsung has now fallen into a three-game losing streak, putting their 7th place ranking in a precarious position.
The professional baseball team Samsung Lions suffered a 0-3 defeat against the NC Dinos in the 11th game of the season in the 2025 Shinhang SOL Bank KBO League held at Changwon NC Park on the 9th.
After a three-game winning streak, 7th place Samsung fell into a three-game losing streak, allowing 8th place NC to trail them by just half a game. The season record stands at 43 wins, 1 draw, and 43 losses. Meanwhile, NC, who has been on a three-game winning streak, is on the verge of climbing to 7th place while securing a winning series in the final three games of the first half with a record of 39 wins, 5 draws, and 40 losses.
Starting pitcher Choi Won-tae surrendered the opening run in the bottom of the first inning. The trouble began when he allowed a leadoff hit to Kim Joo-won on the first pitch. Following a fortunate pop-up by Kwon Hee-dong's bunt that resulted in an out, the runner at first base, Kim Joo-won, failed to steal, but a series of hits by Park Min-woo and Oh Young-soo, along with a stolen base by Oh Young-soo, put them in a 2nd and 3rd base crisis, leading to a run due to a throwing error by shortstop Lee Jae-hyun.
In the bottom of the second inning, after issuing a straight walk to leadoff batter Kim Hwi-jip, he followed up with a sacrifice bunt by Ahn Jung-yeol, then allowed Choi Jung-won to reach base on a hit-by-pitch on the first pitch. With two runners on base due to a double steal, the situation shifted to 1 out with runners at 2nd and 3rd, and Kim Joo-won hit a one-run infield ground ball. First baseman Lewin Diaz stepped on first base and made a throw home, but Kim Hwi-jip's foot was faster.
Choi Won-tae still fell behind 0-2, adding another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Once again, he allowed leadoff batter Kim Joo-won to reach on a walk after nine pitches, setting up a crisis. After Kim Joo-won's stolen base, he managed to make two outs against Kwon Hee-dong with a ground ball to third base and Park Min-woo with a ground ball to the pitcher, but allowed Oh Young-soo to hit a one-run, decisive hit that went to center field.
Samsung struggled against NC starter Shin Min-hyeok. Numerous opportunities were wasted due to the failure of subsequent batters. In the top of the fourth inning, leadoff batter Koo Ja-wook and Lee Jae-hyun both got singles, creating a scoring chance with 2 outs on 1st and 2nd base, but Kim Young-woong ended the inning with a pop-up to first base. In the top of the sixth inning, leadoff batter Kim Sung-yoon started the rally with a single to center, but Koo Ja-wook struck out, Diaz grounded out to second base, and Ryu Ji-hyuk popped out to third base.
The top of the seventh inning, trailing 0-3, was the most disappointing moment. Leadoff batter Lee Jae-hyun hit a double to right-center off the new pitcher Kim Jin-ho and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. With no outs and a runner on third, a perfect chance was missed as Kim Young-woong struck out, Kang Min-ho popped out to first base, and Kim Jae-seong flew out to left field, failing to score.
In the top of the eighth inning, Samsung's leadoff batter Kim Ji-chan ignited a glimmer of hope with a single to center, but Kim Sung-yoon spoiled the chance with a double play. Following that, Koo Ja-wook hit a single to left and Diaz hit a double, putting 2 runners on 2nd and 3rd base with 2 outs, but pinch hitter Lee Chang-yong erased the last hope with a ground ball to the shortstop.
Samsung starter Choi Won-tae experienced misfortune, suffering his 5th loss of the season (5 wins) despite a quality start, pitching 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, striking out 3, and yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 94 pitches. The lineup, which collected 8 hits and 2 walks, frustratingly ended with no runs.
On the other hand, NC starter Shin Min-hyeok claimed his 5th win of the season (3 losses) with 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, striking out 2, and not allowing any runs on 90 pitches. In the lineup, Kim Joo-won went 3 for 1 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 run scored; Park Min-woo went 4 for 2 with 1 run; and Oh Young-soo went 3 for 2 with 1 RBI, leading the offense.
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