Kim Seong-wook is in good condition…Song Myeong-ki was selected instead of Peddy in the second game”
NC won 4–3 in the first game of the 2023 postseason semi-playoff (quasi-PO) against SSG held at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 22nd. Starter Shin Min-hyuk’s pitching turnaround and Kim Seong-wook’s pinch-hit two-run shot in the 8th inning were decisive.
Shin Min-hyuk held the mound firmly, throwing 5.2 scoreless innings in his first postseason appearance. He completed his mission by overcoming crises with first and second bases out and no outs in the third and fourth innings.
The batting line, which had been blocked by opposing starting pitcher Roenis Elias, countered with Kim Seong-wook’s home run in the 8th inning. A bunt failed in the top of the 8th inning, so instead of 1 out and 2nd base, it was 1 out and 1st base, but pinch hitter Kim Seong-wook targeted Ellis’ first pitch and hit the final two-run gun. Afterwards, NC completed the victory by adding 2 points in the top of the 9th inning with timely hits by Martin and Seo Ho-cheol. Closing pitcher Lee Yong-chan allowed two runs after a two-run shot by Ha Jae-hoon in the bottom of the 9th inning, but kept the lead until the end and earned a save.
NC, which succeeded in dominating the semi-PO series, had an 87.5% chance of advancing to the playoffs. In the past 32 semi-POs, the team that won the first game 28 times won the series. In the 10-team system that has been in place since 2015, the team that wins the first game of the semi-PO has a 100% chance of winning the series.
