CHANGWON, South Korea — In a decisive Game 3, the KT Wiz outplayed the NC Dinos with a 3-0 victory, extending their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason life. Starting pitcher Ko Young-pyo's six scoreless innings and home runs by Bae Jung-dae and Moon Sang-chul at Changwon NC Park were critical to narrowing the series gap.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Bae's two-run homer in the second inning and Moon's seventh-inning solo shot provided the necessary edge to overcome the Dinos’ earlier lead in the best-of-five second round. This offensive surge complemented Ko's dominant pitching, which limited the Dinos to three hits.
Wiz manager Lee Kang-chul commended Ko's performance and the timely home runs. The Dinos, under manager Kang In-kwon, faced a setback, breaking their six-game winning streak this postseason. Their focus is now on recovering for Game 4, acknowledging the quality pitching from the Wiz despite their own offensive struggles against Ko Young-pyo.
The historical context of postseason comebacks was noted, with only two teams having overcome a 2-0 deficit in the second round. With aspirations to advance to the Korean Series against the waiting LG Twins, the Wiz and Dinos are aware of the high stakes in the upcoming games.
The game began with missed opportunities for the Wiz in the first inning, failing to score despite having runners on base. However, they quickly recalibrated, with Bae's homer securing their first lead of the series.
Dinos starter Tanner Tully regained control after Bae's home run but received no offensive backing, as Ko effectively used his changeup and fastball to maintain the shutout. A failed rally attempt in the sixth inning by the Dinos further underscored the Wiz's pitching efficiency.
Moon Sang-chul's additional homer off Dinos' reliever Kim Young-kyu added insurance for the Wiz, while their bullpen ensured the Dinos remained scoreless for the remainder of the game, echoing the Dinos' silent bats since Game 1.
As the series progresses, the Dinos aim to reignite their offense, and the Wiz look to carry their newfound momentum into Game 4, hoping to replicate the comeback feats of past KBO teams.