(LEAD) Dinos edge out Heroes to snap 3-game losing streak in KBO

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 14-15)
By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- For all the trouble they have had hitting with runners aboard this season, the NC Dinos picked a perfect time Tuesday night to flip the script.

The Dinos defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 5-3 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with four of those runs coming with two outs in an inning. Starter Shin Min-hyeok held the Heroes to a pair of runs in 5 1/3 innings to win consecutive decisions for the first time in over a month.

The Dinos snapped their season-worst three-game losing streak, while handing the Heroes their third loss in four games.

The Dinos came into this game ranked eighth among 10 teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with a .275 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Against the Heroes, the Dinos drew the first blood in the top of the second, when Kim Ju-won smacked a two-out, two-run homer off starter Ha Yeong-min.

The Dinos capitalized on a throwing error by usually reliable second baseman Kim Hye-seong in the top third. With a runner at first, Kim fielded a grounder but made a wide throw that pulled shortstop Ko Young-woo off the second base bag, failing to get the force out and giving the Dinos a new life. Kwon Hui-dong made the Heroes pay with a two-out single through the hole on the right, and gave the Dinos a 4-0 lead.

The Heroes frittered away some early opportunities. In the bottom third, Ronnie Dawson was stranded after hitting a one-out double. The Heroes had men at the corners with two outs in the bottom fourth, only to see Kim Gun-hee ground out to third.

The Heroes finally broke through against Shin in the bottom fifth. Song Sung-mun led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kim Hye-seong to make it a 4-1 game.

The Heroes then got to within two runs in the bottom sixth, thanks to a Dinos error.

Choi Joo-hwan hit a one-out single and then scored all the way from first on a base hit by Byeon Sang-kwon, when left fielder Park Han-gyeol mishandled the ball and let it trickle toward the warning track.

The Dinos added an insurance run in the top ninth with Son Ah-seop's sacrifice fly. The Heroes got a run back in the bottom ninth on Ko Young-woo's two-out single off closer Lee Yong-chan, but stranded runners at the corners after Choi Joo-hwan, representing the winning run, grounded out to second.

The Heroes had a base runner in every inning and outhit the Dinos 12-8 in the loss.

Shin allowed two runs -- one unearned -- after scattering seven hits across 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one, as he improved to 4-3 and lowered his ERA from 3.17 to 3.02.

After Shin left, the bullpen took care of the final 3 2/3 innings, with closer Lee Yong-chan walking the tightrope in the bottom ninth with the winning run at the plate.

"I am pleased with this win. I've been trying to throw more strikes and get ahead in counts," Shin said. "That approach has led to some good results. Though I didn't finish the sixth inning, I had faith in my teammates to take care of business."

Ha Yeong-min, in his first start since May 10 for the Heroes, took the loss after lasting only 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs, two unearned.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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