NC Dinos sweep SSG Landers to advance in KBO playoffs

The NC Dinos beat the SSG Landers 7-6 on Wednesday to win the first round of the KBO playoffs with a three-game sweep and advance to face the KT Wiz in the second round.

Jason Martin of the NC Dinos rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during a playoff game against the SSG Landers at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

The NC Dinos beat the SSG Landers 7-6 on Wednesday to win the first round of the KBO playoffs with a three-game sweep and advance to face the KT Wiz in the second round.

There was a lot of action early at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, with 12 runs scored in the opening two innings and then a bullpen duel for the remaining seven.

NC opened the scoring with three runs at the bottom of the first, only to concede five at top of the second with a bases loaded walk and a Choi Jeong grand slam unloading the bases for the Landers.

Park Kun-woo pulled the score back to 5-4 at the bottom of the second, with Jason Martin then hammering a three-run homer over the wall to put the DInos up 7-5.

The Dinos then went on the defense, with the mound shutting down an attempt at a comeback in the third and allowing just a single run in the fourth to secure the win 7-6 win.

With the win, the Dinos advance to face the KT Wiz in the second round of the playoffs starting next Monday. The reigning champion Landers, meanwhile, end their postseason run without a single win.

The Wiz, who finished the regular season in second place, are yet to appear in the playoffs. By the time the series starts next week, they will have had two weeks to train since the end of the regular season while the Wildcard and first round were held.

The Dinos, who finished in fourth place, have already played five games, two against the Doosan Bears in the Wildcard and three against the Landers in the first round.

The winner of the five-game second round series will advance to face the LG Twins in the seven-game Korean Series beginning on Nov. 7.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]