CHANGWON-SI, South Korea (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections, the NC Dinos rallied late to edge the Lotte Giants 5-4 on Wednesday evening at Masan Baseball Stadium, securing a series victory and handing the Giants their second consecutive loss.

A crowd of 11,875 watched as the Dinos, overcoming a shaky start from their bullpen and a late deficit, scored two runs in the eighth inning to complete the comeback, improving their record to 3-1. The Giants fell to .500 at 2-2.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Giants clinging to a 4-3 lead. Lotte reliever Park Jeong-min, who had entered in the seventh, allowed a leadoff single to Kim Whee-jip. After a flyout, first baseman Shin Jae-in stepped to the plate. On a 1-1 offering, Shin connected and drove the ball deep over the outfield wall for a two-run home run, instantly flipping the score to 5-4 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The blast made a winner of NC reliever Lee Jun-hyeok and set the stage for closer Ryu Jin-wook, who worked a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.

The contest began as a pitcher’s duel. Lotte starter Na Gyun-an and NC starter Shin Min-hyeok traded zeroes for the first three innings, with neither offense able to muster a sustained threat. The Giants broke through in the fourth when right fielder Yoon Dong-hee launched a solo home run off Shin Min-hyeok to give Lotte a 1-0 lead.

NC responded forcefully in the fifth against Na Gyun-an. After a single and a sacrifice bunt, second baseman Park Min-woo connected for a two-run homer to right field, putting the Dinos ahead 2-1. The lead was short-lived, however. Lotte reclaimed the advantage in the top of the sixth. A walk, a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice fly from Yoo Kang-nam tied the game. Later in the inning, Jeon Min-jae delivered a clutch two-out single to center field, scoring Son Ho-young to put the Giants back on top 3-2.

Lotte added what seemed like a critical insurance run in the seventh when Jo-Jo Reyes led off the inning with a solo homer against NC reliever Bae Jae-whan, extending the lead to 4-2. The Dinos chipped away in their half of the eighth, setting the stage for Shin’s decisive blow. Prior to the home run, the Dinos had struggled with runners in scoring position, stranding multiple runners in key situations.

The Giants’ offense, which produced eight hits, was led by Yoon Dong-hee’s homer and multi-hit games from Yoo Kang-nam and Jeon Min-jae. Yet, they went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. NC’s 11-hit attack was more timely, with Park Min-woo’s two-run shot and Shin Jae-in’s game-winner providing the necessary power. The Dinos’ bullpen, after the early homer allowed, stabilized with Lee Jun-hyeok and Ryu Jin-wook combining for 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

The result contradicted most pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-3 NC victory, and its ELO system gave the Dinos a 57.4% probability to win. However, betting markets had installed Lotte as a -1.5 run favorite. The combined total of nine runs also fell well under the posted over/under line of 10.5.

The victory gives NC a 2-0 lead in the three-game midweek series after a 9-2 win on Tuesday. The teams will conclude the set on Thursday. Lotte will then return to Busan to begin a three-game weekend series against the Shinsegae Landers on Friday. The Dinos will hit the road for a three-game series against the Kia Tigers in Gwangju, also beginning Friday.