NC Dinos infielder Park Min-woo reflected on his success in stealing third base in the top of the 9th inning, which was a watershed moment in Game 1 of the semi-playoffs, saying, “I was 99.9% sure I could survive.”
NC played the first round of the semi-playoffs against SSG Landers held at Munhak SSG Landers Field on October 22 and won 4 to 3.
On this day, NC was blocked by opposing starting pitcher Elias until the 7th inning, maintaining a 0-0 balance. However, NC took the lead first in the top of the 8th inning with one out and one on first base when pinch hitter Kim Seong-wook hit Elias’ first-pitch changeup and hit a two-run home run to left center.
SSG, who launched a counterattack, scored back-to-back runs in the bottom of the 8th inning with back-to-back hits by pinch hitters Choo Shin-soo and Choi Joo-hwan, and Choi Jeong’s sacrifice fly ball by left fielder on Park Seong-han’s sacrifice bunt with one out on second and third base. However, the follow-up batter, Heredia, struck out on a missed swing and failed to tie the game.
NC ran away further in the top of the 9th inning. NC took the opportunity in the top of the 9th inning with one out and a runner on second base with Park Min-woo’s right-handed hit and Do Tae-hoon’s sacrifice bunt. Min-Woo Park then succeeded in stealing third base, leading to an opportunity with one out and a runner on third base. Martin succeeded in scoring an additional point with a timely hit to the right with an RBI that broke through the opponent’s infield forward defense.
Afterwards, Martin succeeded in stealing second base, leading to a second base opportunity with two outs. The opposing closer, Seo Jin-yong, took the mound, but Seo Ho-cheol scored a crucial additional point with a timely hit to the right with one RBI.
NC fell behind by one point in the bottom of the 9th inning when Ha Jae-hoon hit a 2-run home run. However, closing pitcher Lee Yong-chan ended the inning without allowing any additional runs.
The decisive scene was Park Min-woo’s additional score after stealing third base in the top of the 9th inning. Stealing third base was the best result to put pressure on the opposing battery, which must prevent additional runs.
Park Min-woo, whom we met ahead of the second game of the semi-playoffs on the 23rd, said, “The bigger the game, the more boldly I try to run the bases. Stealing third base is the most thrilling result of any base running you can achieve. The timing was determined by analyzing the opponent’s battery. “He was 99.9% confident that he could survive,” he said, nodding.
Park Min-woo also talked about how he looked surprised when he saw Noh Kyung-eun’s knuckleball in the top of the 9th inning. Park Min-woo was hit by Noh Kyung-eun’s 97km/h knuckleball on the second pitch in the top of the 9th inning.
Park Min-woo said, “I didn’t expect a knuckleball at all, so I missed the swing. Rather than being surprised by the knuckleball, he seemed more surprised that catcher Jaewon Lee’s older brother caught the knuckleball. He asked me how I caught it (laughs). “The ball really disappeared in an instant,” he said with a smile.스포츠토토
Meanwhile, Park Min-woo will start as the second batter and second baseman in the second game of the semi-playoffs on the 23rd and take on the role of table setter. NC is Son Ah-seop (designated hitter) – Park Min-woo (second baseman) – Park Geon-woo (right fielder) – Martin (center fielder) – Kwon Hee-dong (left fielder) – Seo Ho-cheol (third baseman) – Kim Hyeong-jun (catcher) – Oh Young-soo (first baseman) – Kim Joo-won ( Shortstop) takes the starting batting order to face SSG starting pitcher Gwang-Hyun Kim. NC starting pitcher is Song Myeong-ki.