CHANGWON (Interstat) — Yang Eui-ji launched a two-run home run in the second inning and Park Jun-soon delivered a go-ahead single in the 10th inning as the Doosan Bears beat the NC Dinos 4-2 on Friday night at Masan Baseball Stadium.

The win lifted Doosan to 45-42-2, while NC fell to 40-43-1. The game took 3 hours, 42 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 15,235.

Doosan struck first in the top of the second. Yunior Severino drew a walk, and Yang Eui-ji followed by driving a pitch over the left-field wall for his 12th home run of the season, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead. The inning continued with a single by An Jae-seok, but Son Ah-seop grounded into a double play and Kang Seung-ho flied out to end the frame.

The Bears threatened again in the third. Park Chan-ho singled to left and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jung Soo-bin, but Kim Min-seok lined out to first and Park Jun-soon grounded out to third. Doosan’s offense stalled from there, with the next five batters reaching base only once – a single by Kim Min-seok in the sixth – before the Bears’ bullpen took over.

NC’s first scoring chance came in the bottom of the fourth. Crim Blaine singled to center, and Lee Woo-sung singled to left to put runners on first and second. Ko Jun-hwi reached on a fielder’s choice, but the Dinos failed to score when a lineout and a flyout followed. The Dinos left two runners on base in the sixth as well, after a single by Park Kun-woo and a single by Ko Jun-hwi, but Kim Hyung-jun flied out to end the threat.

The Dinos finally broke through in the seventh. Kim Han-byeol hit an infield single to second, and after Kim Ju-won flied out, Kwon Hui-dong reached on a walk. Park Min-woo also walked to load the bases. Crim Blaine then singled to left field, scoring Choi Jeong-won – who had entered as a pinch runner – to cut the lead to 2-1. Blaine was thrown out trying to advance, ending the inning.

NC took the lead in the bottom of the ninth. Kim Ju-won singled in front of the right fielder, and Kwon Hui-dong sacrificed him to second. Park Min-woo grounded out, moving Kim Ju-won to third. After a pitch-clock violation on the Doosan pitcher, Crim Blaine walked, then singled to center field, scoring Kim Ju-won to put the Dinos ahead 2-1. Lee Woo-sung grounded out to third to end the inning.

Doosan responded immediately in the top of the 10th. Park Chan-ho walked, and Jung Soo-bin sacrificed him to second. Jo Soo-haeng singled to left, putting runners at the corners. Park Jun-soon then singled to left field, scoring Park Chan-ho to tie the game at 2-2. Lee Yu-chan grounded out to the pitcher, moving Jo Soo-haeng to third and Park Jun-soon to second. Park Ji-hoon struck out, but the pitch was dropped by the catcher. As the catcher scrambled to throw to first, Jo Soo-haeng broke for home and scored the go-ahead run. The throw to first sailed into right field, allowing Park Jun-soon to also cross the plate, giving the Bears a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the 10th, closer Kim Kang-ryul retired the Dinos in order, striking out two to seal the victory.

Yang Eui-ji’s two-run homer was the biggest hit of the early innings, while Park Jun-soon finished with two hits and two RBIs. Jung Soo-bin contributed a sacrifice bunt and a walk, and Kim Min-seok singled and walked. Doosan’s bullpen held NC scoreless over the final two innings, allowing only one hit.

The Dinos outhit the Bears 9-8 but left nine runners on base. Crim Blaine had two hits and two RBIs for NC, while Kim Ju-won added two hits and scored both of the Dinos’ runs.

Doosan’s victory evened the three-game series at one game apiece. The Bears had lost the opener 4-2 on Thursday. The teams meet again Saturday and Sunday at Masan Baseball Stadium. Doosan then travels to face KT Wiz on Tuesday, while NC visits LG Twins on Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of NC Dinos 5, Doosan Bears 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected NC with a 52.70 percent probability to win. NC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 1.5. The total score of 4 went over the over/under line of 10.5.